The ascent of China and its impact on other actors in the system
Analysis of the impact of the ascent of China on other actors in the region (Japan, Taiwan, the Korean peninsula) with a specific focus on how the narrative has changed from "The rise of China" to "China risen".
Analysis of Chinese and Japanese foreign policy
Analysis of the main dynamics, actors and changes taking place in the foreign policy of the People's Republic of China and that of Japan. In the former, the research considers how the changing status of China is affecting territories such as the European Union, the United States, Russia and Japan, and its impact on international bodies, such as the UN, the WTO and WHO. It also deals with the question of how China views the regulations currently governing the international system from the viewpoint of changing the regulations or coming into conflict with them.
The research also examines how national and international changes have transformed the Yoshida Doctrine and how Japan is transforming its foreign policy in response to this changing international scene (the end of the Cold War, the rise of China, the return of Russia, a weakened EU, etc.).
Analysis of relations between the EU and the Asia-Pacific region
A study of the EU's institutional relations with some of the main actors in the region: China, which is its main trading partner, and Japan, with which it has signed a free trade agreement.
The EU-China-Japan triangle is a subject of particular interest.
Artificial Intelligence and diplomacy, metaverse
This research line studies how artificial intelligence (AI) and such specific uses of it as the metaverse are impacting countries' public diplomacy. Barbados has opened the first metaverse embassy. Its use (or misuse) for diplomatic negotiations could give us an idea of how important this phenomenon could become in the future.
Analysis of gender in Asia-Pacific region foreign policy
Until relatively recently the impact of gender constructs on the practice of foreign policy and its effects have been largely ignored. The research aims to advance understanding of the impact of gender on leadership and the conduct of foreign policy and the different actors' positioning on promoting or challenging international standards on gender equality.
The first sub-line applies a perspective that is sensitive to identifying the influence of masculine and feminine aspects of individuals in decision-making and the implementation of foreign policy, with an emphasis on developing an empirical analysis of female leadership in the region, considering figures such as Carrie Lam (Hong Kong), Park Geun-hye (South Korea) and Tsai Ing-wen (Taiwan). The second sub-line analyses the positioning of different countries in the region regarding international standards such as the United Nations Security Council Resolution on Women, Peace and Security (UNSC 1325), sexual and reproductive rights and the rights of the LGBT community.
Thought and historical development in East Asia
An understanding of the historical processes experienced by different countries in East Asia can help us to better understand and analyse the present. We examine dissident and protest movements against the regimes governing the region in order to understand factors such as radicalization, political violence and the history of political thought and their impact.
We are also studying the contemporary dichotomy between democratic and more authoritarian systems in East Asian countries, with an emphasis on the ideological concepts that are the basis for these processes. This will make it necessary to set up an observatory to monitor events in the region, covering elections and any protests that may take place in connection with them.