4. Electronic Theses and Dissertations (ETDs) - Faculties submissions
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Item Cultural Diplomacy and Soft Power: The Impact of South Korea’s Pop Culture on China and the World(University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2024) Jiang, ZhiqiThis research paper, titled "Cultural Diplomacy and Soft Power: The Impact of South Korea’s Pop Culture on China and the World" is submitted by Zhiqi Jiang on August 16, 2024, as a Master’s Research Report in International Relations. It examines the extent to which South Korea’s pop cultural diplomacy has challenged China’s cultural dominance in East Asia and contributed to South Korea’s rise in global soft power since the 1990s. By contrasting the cultural diplomacy strategies of China and South Korea and investigating the achievements of South Korea’s pop cultural diplomacy in economics, international organizations, and foreign policies, the study argues that South Korea’s strategic promotion of its pop culture, including K-pop, K-dramas, and films, has significantly enhanced its soft power. This influence manifests in South Korea’s ability to shape public opinion and influence economic and foreign policies in and with China. Additionally, South Korea has leveraged global economic gains and diplomatic influence through celebrity youth diplomacy to further strengthen its international soft power. The findings highlight the critical role of pop cultural diplomacy in international relations, providing insights for nations seeking to improve their global standing.Item The economic and geopolitical implications of China’s BRI in Nigeria and Ethiopia: A comparative analysis(University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2024) Mojela, Tshenolo; Freer, GordonThe BRI, launched by China in 2013, has significantly reshaped global economic and geopolitical landscapes through extensive infrastructure projects to enhance global connectivity. This dissertation examines the economic and geopolitical implications of the BRI in Nigeria and Ethiopia, two pivotal African partners of the initiative. Despite a global decline in FDI to developing countries, Africa's FDI remained stable, with notable increases in BRI-related engagements. Nigeria and Ethiopia have received substantial investments, boosting their infrastructure and economic capacities while raising concerns about increased debt dependency and potential geopolitical shifts favouring China. Employing dependency theory, this research explores how the BRI influences Nigeria and Ethiopia's agency, economic dependencies, and sovereignty. This dissertation contributes to the broader understanding of the BRI's role in shaping Africa's geopolitical landscape and offers insights into the responses of African nations to this transformative global initiative. The findings are valuable for policymakers, scholars, and stakeholders interested in China's engagement strategy in Africa, informing the development of policies that leverage the benefits of the BRI while mitigating potential risks to ensure sustainable and equitable growth for African nations.Item Digital readiness and financial performance in the financial industry: evidence from emerging market economies(2022) Ndlovu, ChiedzaThis study examines the impact of digital readiness on financial performance of listed firms in Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. It is based on 1 224 firms across BRICS where 135, 41, 711 and 337 firms represent banks, insurance, investments and real estate industries, respectively. The Arbitrage Pricing Theory was extended by including the digital readiness component from the Network Readiness Index Framework. Generalized Method of Moments regression was used as the main data analysis model. Key findings are as follows: [1] The extended Arbitrage Pricing Theory and the longitudinal research design approach was found to be ideal for the study as supported by model statistics. [2] The current state of enabling infrastructure is not a key determinant of financial performance. [3] Internet affordability effects generally have a positive and significant impact on financial performance of banking and insurance firms. [4] Skills and education have positive and significant impact on financial performance of banking and insurance firms. [5] Financial performance in investments and real estate firms generally respond negatively to variations in digital readiness. [6] Market-based financial performance measures respond better to variations in digital readiness when compared to accounting-based measures of financial performance.