Este trabalho tem por objetivo principal estudar especificamente a percepção da academia chinesa em relação ao Brasil, bem como a relação entre os dois países. A análise tem por base a utilização de dez revistas acadêmicas chinesas na esfera de política/economia internacional, elaboradas por Think Tanks consagrados. O trabalho é composto por três partes. A primeira seção apresentará um quadro geral da disciplina Relações Internacionais na China e explicará também as principais funções de TTs da China. A segunda parte contém informações quantitativas obtidas pela análise dos periódicos, concentrando-se em três aspectos: a distribuição do tema, da região e do país; a quantidade de artigos que têm o Brasil como tema e, ainda, uma comparação da quantidade dos artigos de determinados países em relação ao Brasil. A título de conclusão, far-se-á uma revisão descritiva dos artigos encontrados sobre o Brasil, apresentando qual é a imagem do Brasil aos olhos da academia chinesa, e qual o seu posicionamento acerca da relação sino-brasileira. / The main objective of this work is to study specifically the Chinese academic perception in relation to Brazil, as well as the relationship between the two countries. The analysis is based on ten Chinese academic journals in the field of international politics and economy, publicated by principal Think Tanks. It consists of three parts. The first section presents a general framework of the International Relations discipline in China and also explains the main functions of chinese foreign politics think tanks. The second part contains information obtained by quantitative analysis of the journals, focusing on three aspects: the distribution of the topic, the region and the country; the quantity of items about the Brazil and also a comparison of the amount of articles about Brazil and certain countries. In conclusion, a descriptive review of articles will be given, which is presenting Brazilian image in the eyes of the Chinese academy, and also his position on the China- Brazil relationship.

Pour étudier le changement en relations internationales, cette thèse se penche sur l’adhésion de trois pays d’Europe centrale à l’OTAN en 1999. L’analyse s’intéresse aux facteurs permettant le passage du statut d’ennemi à celui de partenaire ou d’allié. L’hypothèse retenue est que ces évolutions sont tributaires d’un processus de socialisation. Mais celui-ci peut être entravé par la faiblesse des interactions, l’utilisation politique du passé et l’absence de réconciliation ou de reconnaissance mutuelle entre acteurs. Par ailleurs le changement est influencé par les dynamiques nationales. Pour intégrer l’Alliance atlantique, les Etats d’Europe centrale durent modifier leurs ordres institutionnels et politiques. Mais cela ne fut pas le résultat des seules pressions de l’OTAN. Si celle-ci souhaitait exporter un modèle libéral et démocratique et s’arrogea au cours de la décennie quatre-vingt-dix des compétences et pratiques d’autres organisations, elle ne disposait pas des outils et du savoir institutionnel nécessaires. De fait les trajectoires vers l’adhésion furent marquées par trois dynamiques : une forte concurrence entre candidats, la singularité des parcours nationaux en raison des rapports de force internes et de l’héritage communiste et la politisation de l’enjeu atlantique à des fins de légitimation ou de stigmatisation. Ce processus démontre donc qu’il n’y eut pas une stricte équivalence entre transformations post-communistes et processus d’adhésion. Ainsi cette thèse suggère que l’étude du changement en relations internationales ne peut s’astreindre d’une réflexion prenant en compte les passés douloureux et les arènes domestiques. / In order to analyse the dynamics that make change possible change in international relations, this dissertation studies the adhesion of three Central European countries to NATO in 1999. The analysis deals with the factors that allow the switch from the status of enemy to partner or ally. By doing this, the thesis builds on the hypothesis that these evolutions are dependent on a socialization process. However a lack of interactions and of reconciliation, a political use of the past or non-mutual recognition between States can hinder the process. What’s more change is influenced by domestic dynamics. In order to join NATO, Central Eastern European countries modified their institutional and political orders. But this process was not the result of the very pressures of NATO. If the Atlantic Alliance wanted to export a liberal and democratic model and took over the competencies and practices of other organizations, it did not have the tools and the institutional knowledge to do so. So the paths towards adhesion were marked out by three dynamics: a strong concurrency between candidate countries, the singularity of each national way due to domestic political games and the heritage of communism and the politicization of the Atlantic issue as a tool to legitimize or stigmatise. This process shows that there was not a strict equivalence between post-communist transformations and the adhesions. Hence this study suggests that the analysis of change in international relations should take into account the influence of painful pasts and of the domestic arenas.

Este trabalho tem por objetivo principal estudar especificamente a percepção da academia chinesa em relação ao Brasil, bem como a relação entre os dois países. A análise tem por base a utilização de dez revistas acadêmicas chinesas na esfera de política/economia internacional, elaboradas por Think Tanks consagrados. O trabalho é composto por três partes. A primeira seção apresentará um quadro geral da disciplina Relações Internacionais na China e explicará também as principais funções de TTs da China. A segunda parte contém informações quantitativas obtidas pela análise dos periódicos, concentrando-se em três aspectos: a distribuição do tema, da região e do país; a quantidade de artigos que têm o Brasil como tema e, ainda, uma comparação da quantidade dos artigos de determinados países em relação ao Brasil. A título de conclusão, far-se-á uma revisão descritiva dos artigos encontrados sobre o Brasil, apresentando qual é a imagem do Brasil aos olhos da academia chinesa, e qual o seu posicionamento acerca da relação sino-brasileira. / The main objective of this work is to study specifically the Chinese academic perception in relation to Brazil, as well as the relationship between the two countries. The analysis is based on ten Chinese academic journals in the field of international politics and economy, publicated by principal Think Tanks. It consists of three parts. The first section presents a general framework of the International Relations discipline in China and also explains the main functions of chinese foreign politics think tanks. The second part contains information obtained by quantitative analysis of the journals, focusing on three aspects: the distribution of the topic, the region and the country; the quantity of items about the Brazil and also a comparison of the amount of articles about Brazil and certain countries. In conclusion, a descriptive review of articles will be given, which is presenting Brazilian image in the eyes of the Chinese academy, and also his position on the China- Brazil relationship.

The significant role of multinational corporations (MNCs) in the international political economy necessitates innovative ways to study their activities and relationships with states. This study, therefore, analyses the foreign policy of the South African government in Africa during President Thabo Mbeki’s administration – 1999 to 2008 – juxtaposed with the corporate diplomatic strategies of selected retail MNCs. The MNCs – Shoprite Holdings Limited, Massmart Holdings Limited, Woolworths Holdings Limited and Pick n Pay Holdings Limited – are treated as actors. The study uncovers the nature and extent of coalescences and divergences of strategies between the government and the MNCs. It also finds divergences between government’s policy pronouncements and interests. For example, the government’s plan to craft a code of good business practice is found to be in conflicts with its support for multilateralism. The study lays the basis for a new model to study diplomatic strategies of firms and governments. / Political Sciences / M.A. (International Politics)

This thesis investigates the period in Judah which took place precisely a century between the death ofHezekiah (687 BCE) and the final fall of Jerusalem (587 BCE) Seldom has a nation experienced so many dramatically sudden reversals of fortune in so relatively short a time. Throughout the first half of the seventh century BCE the Assyrian empire reigned supreme. In the second half, in rapid succession, Judah, as a vassal, experienced periods of independence and of subjection, first to Egypt, then to Babylonia, before finally destroying herself in a futile rebellion against the latter. The aim of the thesis was to set Judah in the global context and investigate the role she played. To this end the Great Powers, namely Assyria, Egypt and Babylonia were surveyed, as well as were the Small Powers, like Judah, Phoenicia and the Transjordanian states, and the relationships probed. The thesis traces the life of the wicked but extraordinarily successful King Manasseh, and his equally reprobate son, Amon, who was brutally murdered by his servants, and was avenged by 'the people of the land'. Josiah is the only monarch who fits the Deuteronomistic requirements of a good king. Religious and national reform generally go hand in hand with politics, and the cultic reform and centralization of the cult characterise his reign. · With the fall of Assyria, the temporary surge into prominence by Egypt and the tragic death of Josiah in 609 BCE, Judah experienced radical political fluctuations and with them alternate subjugation by, and rebellion against, each of the major powers. Inexperienced leadership and a situation of dual kings, followed Josiah's death. The rapidly changing international scene demanded of the rulers of Judah skillful manoeuvring and exceptional adaptability, and frequently confronted them with ominous political situations. Judaean leaders and the puppet King Zedekiah, propped up by false prophets, failed to grasp the shift in the balance of power, and clung to questionable Egyptian aid against the new world power, Babylonia. Highly vulnerable and left in the lurch, Jerusalem faced protracted siege and famine in Jerusalem, destruction ofthe Temple, and deportation ofthe cream ofher people. / Classics and Modern European Languages / D. Litt. et Phil. (Judaica)

The significant role of multinational corporations (MNCs) in the international political economy necessitates innovative ways to study their activities and relationships with states. This study, therefore, analyses the foreign policy of the South African government in Africa during President Thabo Mbeki’s administration – 1999 to 2008 juxtaposed with the corporate diplomatic strategies of selected retail MNCs. The MNCs – Shoprite Holdings Limited, Massmart Holdings Limited, Woolworths Holdings Limited and Pick n Pay Holdings Limited – are treated as actors. The study uncovers the nature and extent of coalescences and divergences of strategies between the government and the MNCs. It also finds divergences between government’s policy pronouncements and interests. For example, the government’s plan to craft a code of good business practice is found to be in conflicts with its support for multilateralism. The study lays the basis for a new model to study diplomatic strategies of firms and governments. / Political Sciences / M. A. (International Politics)

This thesis investigates the period in Judah which took place precisely a century between the death ofHezekiah (687 BCE) and the final fall of Jerusalem (587 BCE) Seldom has a nation experienced so many dramatically sudden reversals of fortune in so relatively short a time. Throughout the first half of the seventh century BCE the Assyrian empire reigned supreme. In the second half, in rapid succession, Judah, as a vassal, experienced periods of independence and of subjection, first to Egypt, then to Babylonia, before finally destroying herself in a futile rebellion against the latter. The aim of the thesis was to set Judah in the global context and investigate the role she played. To this end the Great Powers, namely Assyria, Egypt and Babylonia were surveyed, as well as were the Small Powers, like Judah, Phoenicia and the Transjordanian states, and the relationships probed. The thesis traces the life of the wicked but extraordinarily successful King Manasseh, and his equally reprobate son, Amon, who was brutally murdered by his servants, and was avenged by 'the people of the land'. Josiah is the only monarch who fits the Deuteronomistic requirements of a good king. Religious and national reform generally go hand in hand with politics, and the cultic reform and centralization of the cult characterise his reign. · With the fall of Assyria, the temporary surge into prominence by Egypt and the tragic death of Josiah in 609 BCE, Judah experienced radical political fluctuations and with them alternate subjugation by, and rebellion against, each of the major powers. Inexperienced leadership and a situation of dual kings, followed Josiah's death. The rapidly changing international scene demanded of the rulers of Judah skillful manoeuvring and exceptional adaptability, and frequently confronted them with ominous political situations. Judaean leaders and the puppet King Zedekiah, propped up by false prophets, failed to grasp the shift in the balance of power, and clung to questionable Egyptian aid against the new world power, Babylonia. Highly vulnerable and left in the lurch, Jerusalem faced protracted siege and famine in Jerusalem, destruction ofthe Temple, and deportation ofthe cream ofher people. / Classics and Modern European Languages / D. Litt. et Phil. (Judaica)