Assessment of Master Thesis – Opponent
Study programme:International Economic Relations Field of study:International and Diplomatic Studies Academic year:2020/2021
Master Thesis Topic:Intercultural Communication and International Relations: An analysis of Chinese, American and Arabic cultures
Author’s name:Alicia Alejandra Aguiar Leiva
Ac. Consultant’s Name:doc. Jeremy Alan Garlick, M.A., Ph.D.
Opponent:Fangxing Qin
Criterion Mark
(1–4)
1. Overall objective achievement 1
2. Logical structure 1
3. Using of literature, citations 1
4. Adequacy of methods used 1
5. Depth of analysis 1
6. Self-reliance of author 1
7. Formal requirements: text, graphs, tables 1
8. Language and stylistics 1
Comments and Questions:
This thesis chooses to study the behavior of the United States, China, and Arab countries and the interaction between these countries from the perspective of intercultural communication. The influence of cultural aspects makes an important supplement to material factors such as economics and military when analysing countries’behavior. Through careful study of key concepts and three cultural theories, the author clearly describes cultural dimensions, which should be abstract and difficult to quantify non-material aspects. Through the author’s empirical analysis of the three countries, the theoretical part and the empirical part are well combined, and finally a convincing conclusion is drawn. This is a highly completed master’s thesis.
The overall framework of this paper is very clear, and the conceptual and theoretical background parts are very detailed. The overall analysis of this thesis is very great, but if some of the content can be more in-depth analysed will make this thesis even better. My main suggestion of improvement is that this thesis mainly adopts three theories, the author should better clarify the interrelation and complement of the three theories, and better combine them to form a more comprehensive theoretical framework. Since the three theories are presented independently, the same shortcoming is also reflected in the empirical analysis.
The author lists the characteristics of the three analysis subjects based on the three theories, but the empirical analysis is mainly based on Hofstede’s theory. The cultural profiles based on theories of Hall and Lewi lack more specific and in-depth practical analysis. Nevertheless, the empirical part of the thesis is persuasive, which has achieved the research goal. Another suggestion is that the author should describe the research design in more detail, especially the research methods. Although the author mentioned the use of case study, a clear/separate methodological part should be expected in a master’s thesis.
Despite some shortcomings, this thesis successfully achieved the research goals in the level of master study and provided meaningful information and insights for the study of behavior and interaction of countries in international relations. I am glad to suggest it meets the standards of ’excellence’.
Questions for defence: 1. Can you further analyze �give some specific examples� the behavior of China or Arab countries in international relations from the perspective of high/low context culture and cultural categories of communication based on Hall and Lewi’s theories? 2. As you emphasized in your thesis, although culture has some significant influence on a country’s behavior, economic, military and other material factors have more impact. Do you think that non-material cultural factors will have a greater influence on the behavior of countries in the future?
Conclusion: The Master Thesis is recommended for the defence.
Suggested Grade: 1
Date: 15/05/2021 Fangxing Qin
Opponent
