Japan's Public Diplomacy as an Effective Tool in Enhancing its Soft Power in Vietnam: A case-study of the Ship for Southeast Asian Youth Exchange Program

<p>Soft power is a term defined by Nye as the ability to get what you want through attraction rather than coercion or payments. Public diplomacy is an instrument that government uses to mobilize resources of soft power to attract the public of other countries, rather than merely their governments. Both soft power and public diplomacy have been widely used in both academic works and the media. However, in Northeast Asia, while much has been talked about soft power of a rising China, there is little empirical work on Japan’s soft power with a particular case study. Vietnam is a part of Southeast Asia, a strategic location in which Japan has a special interest. The research is an attempt to explore dimensions of Japan’s soft power and to examine whether public diplomacy is an efficient tool to enhance Japan’s soft power in Vietnam. A case study of the Ship for Southeast Asian Youth Exchange Program will be used to examine if it can help Japan project its soft power in Vietnam. Two separate surveys aiming at the participants of the program and the non-participants are conducted simultaneously. The outcomes of the two surveys will reveal whether the participants have more positive views about Japan than the non-participants. Moreover, these positive views should be correspondent with the foreign policy goals of Japan in its relations with Vietnam. Therefore, the surveys can help conclude whether the Ship for Southeast Asian Youth Exchange program contributes to the enhancement of Japan’s soft power in Vietnam.</p>

Japan's Public Diplomacy as an Effective Tool in Enhancing its Soft Power in Vietnam: A case-study of the Ship for Southeast Asian Youth Exchange Program

<p>Soft power is a term defined by Nye as the ability to get what you want through attraction rather than coercion or payments. Public diplomacy is an instrument that government uses to mobilize resources of soft power to attract the public of other countries, rather than merely their governments. Both soft power and public diplomacy have been widely used in both academic works and the media. However, in Northeast Asia, while much has been talked about soft power of a rising China, there is little empirical work on Japan’s soft power with a particular case study. Vietnam is a part of Southeast Asia, a strategic location in which Japan has a special interest. The research is an attempt to explore dimensions of Japan’s soft power and to examine whether public diplomacy is an efficient tool to enhance Japan’s soft power in Vietnam. A case study of the Ship for Southeast Asian Youth Exchange Program will be used to examine if it can help Japan project its soft power in Vietnam. Two separate surveys aiming at the participants of the program and the non-participants are conducted simultaneously. The outcomes of the two surveys will reveal whether the participants have more positive views about Japan than the non-participants. Moreover, these positive views should be correspondent with the foreign policy goals of Japan in its relations with Vietnam. Therefore, the surveys can help conclude whether the Ship for Southeast Asian Youth Exchange program contributes to the enhancement of Japan’s soft power in Vietnam.</p>

A New Decade of Healthy People: Considerations for Comparing Youth Physical Activity Across 2 Surveillance Systems

Background: Healthy People 2030 includes objectives to increase meeting the aerobic physical activity guideline for ages 6–13 years (of ages 6–17 y, monitored by National Survey of Children’s Health [NSCH]) and grades 9 to 12 (mostly aged 14–18+ y, monitored by Youth Risk Behavior Survey [YRBS]). This study compares methodologies, prevalence, and patterns of meeting the guideline, particularly for overlapping ages 14–17 years. Methods: Nationally representative surveys, 2016–2017 NSCH (adult proxy report, 6–17 y) and 2015 and 2017 YRBS (self-report, grades 9–12), assess meeting the guideline of ≥60 minutes of daily moderate to vigorous physical activity. Prevalence and odds ratios were estimated by age group and demographics. Results: For youth aged 14–17 years, 17.4% (95% confidence interval [CI], 16.1–18.7; NSCH) and 27.0% (95% CI, 25.6–28.5; YRBS) met the guideline. 25.9% (95% CI, 24.8–27.2) aged 6–13 years (NSCH) and 26.6% (95% CI, 25.3–28.0) in grades 9 to 12 (YRBS) met the guideline. Across surveys, fewer females (P < .001) and Asian youth (P < .001 except among NSCH 14–17 y) met the guideline. Conclusions: Neither methodology nor estimates for meeting the aerobic guideline are similar across surveys, so age continuity between juxtaposed estimates should not be assumed by magnitude nor age for separate Healthy People 2030 youth physical activity objectives.

The Experiences of Homelessness among First and Second Generation South Asian Youth: Does Culture Matter?

The successful settlement of first and second generation youth in Canada is vital to Canada’s ethnic dynamism. In spite of this, youth are sometimes wedged between two cultural worlds and two opposing sets of expectations. With the rise of transnational communities, scholars have recently started to research intergenerational conflict between first and second generation youth and their parents. This area of research is just starting to connect with issues of precarious living among newcomer youth. The purpose of this paper is to look at the experiences of homeless South Asian youth to examine whether cultural conflict has facilitated their precarious living situation. Using a qualitative approach, three interviews were conducted with South Asian youth. The youth were residing in shelters at the time of the interviews. The interviews revealed that cultural clash within the family can trigger their precarious life and their use of the shelter system.

The Experiences of Homelessness among First and Second Generation South Asian Youth: Does Culture Matter?

The successful settlement of first and second generation youth in Canada is vital to Canada’s ethnic dynamism. In spite of this, youth are sometimes wedged between two cultural worlds and two opposing sets of expectations. With the rise of transnational communities, scholars have recently started to research intergenerational conflict between first and second generation youth and their parents. This area of research is just starting to connect with issues of precarious living among newcomer youth. The purpose of this paper is to look at the experiences of homeless South Asian youth to examine whether cultural conflict has facilitated their precarious living situation. Using a qualitative approach, three interviews were conducted with South Asian youth. The youth were residing in shelters at the time of the interviews. The interviews revealed that cultural clash within the family can trigger their precarious life and their use of the shelter system.

South Asian Youth in Canada : Young Women Negotiating Mainstream Representations of Colour

South Asian women in Canada negotiate mainstream representations of skin colour, in a context where light skin is systemically privileged through marketing “whiteness” as a desirable and attainable ideal for beauty and success. A semiotic analysis of two web spaces target at young, South Asian woman in the West will be undertaken, to reveal the constructions of colour which favour dominant ideology. However, it can also be seen that such spaces serve as a means to challenge hegemonic constructions and provide a platform for South Asian visibility in the mainstream. In considering colourism within the South Asian context, it is imperative to reflect on systemic power imbalances and colonial history, which have shaped the experiences of South Asian communities. Key words: South Asia; Gender; Colourism; Youth; Semiotic analysis; Media representations.

South Asian Youth in Canada : Young Women Negotiating Mainstream Representations of Colour

South Asian women in Canada negotiate mainstream representations of skin colour, in a context where light skin is systemically privileged through marketing “whiteness” as a desirable and attainable ideal for beauty and success. A semiotic analysis of two web spaces target at young, South Asian woman in the West will be undertaken, to reveal the constructions of colour which favour dominant ideology. However, it can also be seen that such spaces serve as a means to challenge hegemonic constructions and provide a platform for South Asian visibility in the mainstream. In considering colourism within the South Asian context, it is imperative to reflect on systemic power imbalances and colonial history, which have shaped the experiences of South Asian communities. Key words: South Asia; Gender; Colourism; Youth; Semiotic analysis; Media representations.

Dreaming in Canadian: South Asian Youth, Bollywood and Belonging

Dreaming in Canadian: South Asian Youth, Bollywood and Belonging

Dreaming in Canadian: South Asian Youth, Bollywood and Belonging

Dreaming in Canadian: South Asian Youth, Bollywood and Belonging