Other News
Prof Shaun Breslin on China-North Korean relations in The Independent
Prof Shaun Breslin recently wrote an article for The Independent on 8 March entitled 'Still friends, but China will be peeved by North Korea's aggression'. Below is an excerpt from the piece:
China has been North Korea’s best – and sometimes only – friend for a number of years. It provides not just economic aid and support but diplomatic protection too. It’s not easy to see how the North Korean economy could survive without the food, energy and other goods it gets from China. And although China has not blocked UN sanctions against North Korea over its nuclear testing, without China, North Korea would undoubtedly have faced much harsher sanctions; and they would have been more rigorously and actively enforced. China doesn’t do this out of altruism – it wants something in return. There remains the firm hope in China that North Korea will emulate its own experience of gradual reform and integration into the global economy. If and when it does, Chinese interests hope to be well placed to benefit.
EU-Topia? Seminar presented by Warwick European Affairs Society
On 14 March, PAIS Research Fellow Dr Toni Haastrup will present a seminar on the EU and the UK, hosted by the Warwick European Affairs Society. The event will take place at 18.00 in room A0.23, with refreshments at 17.30.
THE GRILL FROM IPANEMA: FOOD AND POLITICS IN BRAZIL
A KnowledgeCentre article by Dr Ben Richardson and Dr João Nunes
Beginning a series of articles on the theme of food this month, Dr Ben Richardson and Dr João Nunes introduce their new research project, which looks at changing discourses on food and hunger, particularly with regard to Brazil, whose position as a rising power in agricultural production has placed it at the centre of the food security debate.
Prof Shaun Breslin contributes to China Policy Institute Blog
Prof Shaun Breslin recently contributed a blog post to the University of Nottingham's China Policy Institute entitled 'Xi Jinping: The Challenge Awaits'. Below is an excerpt from the blog:
Xi Jinping’s tenure as China’s top leader began with might call a stage of symbols and signposts – an attempt to give indications of the main thrusts of policy under his leadership. Making his first trip as leader to the south in an echo of Deng’s南巡 in 1992 (which has become the symbol of the return to reform and liberalisation and the high profile given to combating corruption are both cases in point. The announcement of a “plan” to tackle income distribution began to make the transition from signposts to actual policy; though it still leans more towards being an annunciation of aspiration and grand strategy rather than a detailed outline of specific changes to come.
PAIS student part of winning Warwick team in Barclays Challenge Africa
PAIS student Asli Sepil was part of the winning team from the University of Warwick that participated in Barclays Challenge Africa, a competition sponsored by the Barclays Future Leaders Development Programme. As a result of winning the Challenge, Asli, along with the other members of Warwick's winning team, will spend six weeks in Africa this summer on an all-expenses paid internship on banking in Africa.