In short succession, the Institute of East Asian Studies (IN-EAST) at the University of Duisburg-Essen has published two new issues in its Working Papers on East Asian Studies, dubbed the “Green Series” for the colour of its cover. Issue No. 138 contains a paper by Giulia C. Romano, PhD and Prof. Dr. Markus Taube titled “Duisburg and Its Partnerships with China and Wuhan: An ‘All-Weather’ Friendly Relationship amidst Contemporary Crises?” and was published in late July. The following issue No. 139 released last week and comprises the paper “Visualizations of Chinese Nation Branding: A Comparative Study of the 2008 and 2022 Beijing Olympic Games Opening Ceremonies” by PhD student Han Xie. Please find abstracts of both papers below.
The Institute of East Asian Studies publishes discussion papers entitled Working Papers on East Asian Studies, with issues appearing several times a year. With the first issues hailing back to 1995, the series now encompasses over 100 published issues. All publications in this series may be accessed and downloaded through the IN-EAST website.
Abstract for issue No. 138
Duisburg was the first German city to establish official relations with a Chinese city, Wuhan. Less out of strategic calculation or recognition of the global significance of China’s reform and opening-up policy, but rather thanks to their common industrial roots in the steel industry, the two cities entered an exchange in 1982. In the following two decades, Duisburg supported Wuhan’s development with technical, administrative, and economic assistance, while the latter committed itself primarily in a symbolic fashion to the partnership. Then, after a period of reduced intensity, the partnership was strengthened anew in the early 2010s. Committed to the initiative of reviving the ancient Silk Road, Duisburg subsequently made this connection with Wuhan, and more generally with China, its distinctive brand. The partnership still exists, despite the significant changes that occurred in the international and national context in the very recent years, and above all in China. The city of Duisburg is firm in maintaining an open-door policy and upholding its ties with Wuhan, thereby deviating from the current mainstream of German and EU orientation. This paper explores the components and characteristics of this seemingly “all-weather” friendly relationship, namely its origins, actors, reasons, and objectives through a historical perspective. It looks first at the very beginning of the partnership with Wuhan, allowing for a better understanding of the history of this city’s commitment to China. Then, it addresses the 2010s, a period in which relations between Duisburg and its Chinese partners have significantly intensified. Finally, it covers the contemporary period, illustrating how the city has adapted its relations with China to the enormous upheavals caused by the politico-economic developments in China, the Covid-19 pandemic, the current war in Ukraine, and the pressures of the domestic and international contexts.
Abstract for issue No. 139
As Beijing became the first city in history to successfully host both Summer and Winter Olympic Games, this paper looks into the different visualizations of the two Olympics opening ceremonies in 2008 and 2022. By incorporating the concept of Nation Branding, it features a comparative case study to discuss how China has understood and branded the country through detailed and well-rehearsed artistic presentations in these events. The case study mainly focuses on three layers: role conception, role perception / the formation of brands, and finally the presentation of strategically designed brands. Each layer of comparison answers a specific question, and their combination in turn answers how the difference in artistic presentation may connect with the shifting Chinese nation branding strategies. The result of this paper suggests that the presentations in 2008 and 2022 Olympics opening ceremonies, as the focus shifted from “country and heroism” to “people and togetherness,” generally stood in line with the nation branding strategies performed by the Chinese government throughout this 14-year span.