Resources

Mulgan (1998) uses the term ‘connexity’ to describe the process of globalization whereby transport and communication technologies connect human beings irrespective where they are on the planet. This research will investigate the extent to which connexity in the form of control over the transport of goods and information will supplant ownership of the means of production and territorial control. It will especially concentrate on the potential for emerging forms of connexity to invert the hegemony of western states, by generating a reliance on new and emerging forms of networking. Examples include China’s Belt and Road Initiative, the development of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership which is a China centred Asia-Pacific trading space that encompasses ASEAN, and the creation of a vast Afro-Eurasian integrated land and sea network that creates what has been described as a blueprint for a new multipolar world order based on full spectrum integration.

The topic of immigration in Europe has been dominated by the concept of creating Fortress Europe as a means of controlling the inflow of migrants. This is also being replicated in other parts of the world such as the United States and Australia. This research will examine the new emphasis on the creation if a European Moat which attempts to prevent migrants from reaching the European Union by displacing their entry efforts to more distant places where it is more difficult for humanitarian organizations and the media to monitor. This involves outsourcing border controls to peripheral states whereby countries, for example in North Africa are paid to detain potential migrants and destroy the boats used for crossing the Mediterranean. The research will investigate potential new approaches such as the current initiative by the European Investment Bank termed the Economic Resilience Initiative which aims to raise the funding from public and private sources to provide a long-term solution to the causes of migration. This will involve investment in infrastructure projects, and the delivery of public and social services as well as security.

The concept of the rise of the knowledge or information society has been prominent in the last two decades and describes a process whereby information becomes one of the most precious of assets, and expert knowledge is held at a premium. This research will examine the rise of the disinformation society that is characterized by the dissemination of falsely constructed information as a political weapon against democracy, the norms of western civilization and the nature of reality itself. This may be orchestrated by Russia, but the effects are increasingly being felt throughout society. Of particular concern is the concept of alternative facts that are aimed at eliciting an emotional response rather than rational or critical thinking. This obviates the need for expert opinion and increasingly makes facts a subjective construct that is as valid as any other fact. The research will examine the role of the disinformation society in areas such as the Brexit referendum, the current US administration as well as the way it is being used to undermine democracy in Europe.

The tariff war between the US and China effectively started in June 2018 and continues to unfold as both sides are taking discriminatory action against each other’s trade flows. The US additionally taxed a $253-billion worth of imports from China, and China fired back by taxing a $110-billion worth of American goods. In December 2018, the CFO of Huawei was arrested in Canada because of the company’s alleged violation of US sanctions. This opposition between the world’s two largest economies is projected to have a highly adverse impact on the global trade system. Nonetheless, a disruption in the US-China relations may hold opportunities for other nations to strengthen their positions in either the US or Chinese market. This doctoral project will look into whether such opportunities currently exist for the UK. A mixed data collection strategy will be followed by obtaining qualitative data through 10 semi-structured interviews with experts and quantitative data through longitudinal observations of financial market trends. The researcher expects to find that the declining price of many US and Chinese assets will make them a better investment for British companies.

Key Source:

Lawrence, R.Z. (2018) “Can the Trading System Survive US–China Trade Friction?”, China & World Economy, 26 (5), pp. 62-82.

Over two decades, the Web was envisioned as a powerful connecting force encompassing national and geographic boundaries. However, today, this assumption is being increasingly challenged by the rise of digital protectionism. The US, the EU and China have established their own regulations of digital data storage and processing, which are sometimes referred to as ‘three data realms’. These regulatory systems often come in conflict with each other, effectively preventing digital goods from freely transferring the borders. More and more countries are restricting or even prohibiting the operation of foreign digital services on their territories; the most prominent examples include Facebook and Twitter being banned in China. This doctoral research is testing the assumption that the current rise of digital protectionism in major nations is changing their political discourse and promoting support for right-wing and conservative forces. The sentiment analysis on social media is adopted as the key research method. The expected pattern is that an increase in digital protectionism will be matched by a rise of xenophobic and anti-globalisation sentiments in the population.

Key Source:

Aaronson, S.A. (2018) “What are we talking about when we talk about digital protectionism?”, World Trade Review, 2018 (1), pp. 1-37.

In 2014, Russia made the first military incursion into the territory of Ukraine, an Eastern European country. After Euromaidan protests as well as the fall of the President of Ukraine, Russian military forces annexed Crimea. Shortly after, pro-Russian groups’ demonstrations escalated into an armed conflict in the Donbas and Donetsk areas of Ukraine. This study attempts to explore and understand the key antecedents of this conflict by accessing and reviewing secondary data sources, such as books, articles, reports, and official statements. A special emphasis is put on the argument that Russia’s invasion was an attempt to prevent the eastern enlargement of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO). At the same time, the Ukrainian-Russian conflict is considered to facilitate the former’s intention to become a member of NATO. The recent improvements in Ukraine’s relationships with the US and the European Union further support this argument.

Key Source:

Gokmen, G. and Yakovlev, E. (2018) “War and well-being in transition: Evidence from two natural experiments”, Journal of Comparative Economics, 46 (3), pp. 788-799.