Tom Howe is a second-year PhD candidate at the University of Warwick and Monash University, whose research focuses on exceptionalism in British foreign policy. Within this, Tom adopts a theoretical perspective grounded in Ontological Security studies and Lacanian international relations theory and empirically focuses on the Anglosphere and the British-Australian relationship.

British foreign and security policy is often recounted through certain pivotal events, such as the 1968 decision to end British military basing east of the Suez Canal. For Boris Johnson, this signalled a victory for the European Economic Community and the beginning of the UK's Eurocentric approach to world affairs. However, with the UK's exit from the European Union and the advent of 'Global Britain', a new direction emerged - the much vaunted tilt to the Indo-Pacific. As outlined in the 2021 Integrated Review and reaffirmed in the 2023 Integrated Review Refresh, this strategic shift aims to strengthen the UK's engagement with partners in the Indo-Pacific and once again make the region a pillar of British foreign policy. As such, this talk will examine the UK's Indo-Pacific tilt, placing it within its wider historical context before discussing its rationale and most significant policy manifestations. The talk will conclude with a review of challenges that may undermine this pillar of post-Brexit grand strategy.

Date: Thursday, 07/12/23
Time: 16:15 -17:30
Venue: OC1.07, The Oculus

Kristian Magnus Hauken finished his dual degree Ph.D. at the University of Sheffield, School of East Asian Studies and Tōhoku University, Graduate School of Law in 2020. His research interests include Japanese foreign relations and domestic sources of change in Japan’s foreign policy, as well as sources of status, prestige and stigma in international relations. Kristian is currently employed as a teaching associate in East Asian Studies at the University of Sheffield, School of East Asian studies, where he is teaching mainly postgraduate students in topics relating to the political economy and international relations of East Asia. His current research focuses on how practices, norms and capabilities generate or detract from social standing in international society, with a geographic focus on North-East Asia.

This talk takes the premise that just as individual human beings, states experience social stigma, that in turn affect their behaviour within the international system. Taking the ‘comfort women’ issue as a starting point, I argue that a leading cause for the change in the diplomatic stance of Japan in the ‘comfort women’ issue is the relative success of one conception of national stigma within the Japanese political establishment. This talk explores how specific politicians in Japan have been able to have their own views on this fraught historical issue crystallise into increasingly more accepted Japanese foreign policy, especially in the Japanese-Korean relationship.

Date: Friday, 01/12/2023
Time: 17:15-18:30
Venue: S0.17, Social Sciences Building

It is with great sadness that we write to let you know that PAIS alumnus Dr Dee Dutta passed away peacefully on Tuesday 21 November after a long illness. His wife, Su, was by his side.

Dee completed an MA in PAIS in 2014 before joining the PhD programme to research President Clinton, the CIA and Counter-Terrorism with Trevor McCrisken and Chris Moran as supervisors. He successfully defended his ESRC-funded thesis in 2019. During his time in PAIS, Dee was a much-loved member of the post-graduate community and was greatly valued by his students, who he taught on modules including ‘Politics of the USA’ and ‘US Foreign Policy’.

Chris and Trevor recall that PhD supervisions were always eventful and memorable, since Dee would regale us with wonderful stories from his hugely successful corporate career, which included very senior roles with Sony and Visa. As Head of Global Marketing for Sony, he was instrumental in growing the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) into new territories and markets, as well as blazing a trail for equal pay for female players. In the 2000s, he worked closely with EON Productions, the makers of the James Bond films, and was personally responsible for “arming” 007 with everything from high-tech laptops to exploding mobile phones. His rolodex of friends included everyone from David Dein, vice-chairman of Arsenal Football Club, to champion tennis player Maria Sharapova and legendary watchmaker Frank Muller. He also spoke fondly of his undergraduate student days in Liverpool many years earlier, listening to The Specials and taking part in student demonstrations.

After finishing his PhD, Dee ran for election as a Labour Party councillor in North Northamptonshire before retiring to Scotland, where he could indulge in his passion for top-shelf whisky. A scholar, student and colleague who was always larger than life, he will be dearly missed by his family, friends and the Warwick community at large. Plans for an event in his name will be announced by Trevor and Chris at a later date.

Diego Telias is currently a PhD candidate in Political Science at the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, academic collaborator of the Centre for Asian Studies at the same university, and editorial assistant of the Revista de Ciencia Política. He is also an Associate Researcher of the Millennium Nucleus on the Impacts of China in Latin America (ICLAC). His areas of interest are foreign policy analysis and Latin America-East Asia relations.

LAWN-EASG Talk: This talk explores the complex dynamics arising from the ascent of China and how countries, whether neighboring states or middle powers, position themselves toward this great power. Why have certain governments imposed bans on Chinese companies in 5G bidding processes while others have refrained from such actions? Or why do countries adopt contrasting positions when faced with allegations of human rights violations in Xinjiang? This investigation compares two pairs of countries from different regions (Chile - Uruguay in Latin America and the Czech Republic - Hungary in Central Europe) and through an in-depth analysis of official documents and 120 interviews, analyses if economic leverage, a crucial factor mentioned in the literature, is the main explanation that influences those positions.

Date: Tuesday, 28th November
Time: 14:00 -15:30
Venue: E2.02, Social Sciences Building

Catherine Jones is a lecturer at the University of St Andrews, previously she was a research fellow at the University of Warwick (2012-2018) and received her PhD from the University of Reading. Her research focuses on three areas of work: (1) agency of East Asian states in international order including China's engagement with global order, (2) the China-North Korea relationship, (3) and the politics and development in Southeast Asia. Across these areas she has incorporated wargames and wargaming into her teaching and as an analytical tool for her research. In this context she has particular interests in engaging with diverse perspectives and incorporating voices from less prominent parts of the world.

Catherine's talk addresses a critical gap in current literature by highlighting the importance of emotions in understanding alliance dynamics and management. It explores how the wider context, shaped by emotions among the parties, particularly anxiety, heightened tensions and fear, can impact alliance management. In contexts with heightened emotions, reassurance may be more challenging, contrasting with situations lacking an anxious state. This talk draws upon a range of examples in Northeast Asia to demonstrate the variety of effects of anxiety in alliances, providing significant insights for both policy and theory.

Date: Thursday, 23/11/2023
Time: 16:15-17:30
Venue: Social Sciences Building, Room A0.23