TTLA: The consciousness of sovereignty and national interests of some reformers in East Asia in the second half of the 19th century - early 20th century

INFORMATION ABOUT DOCTORAL THESIS

1. Full name of the researcher:Nguyen Tien Dung           

2. Gender: Male

3. Date of birth: June 16, 1985

4. Place of birth: Hanoi

5. Decision to admit doctoral students: Decision No. 140/QD-ĐNA dated September 28, 2009 of the Director of the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies and Official Dispatch No. 2849/ĐHQGHHN-ĐT dated September 27, 2011 of the Director of Vietnam National University, Hanoi allowing the admission of doctoral students to continue their study program at the University of Social Sciences and Humanities.

6. Changes in the training process: Decision No. 342ª/QD-SĐH dated March 20, 2012 of the President of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities on changing the doctoral thesis topic and Decision No. 3670/QD-XHNV dated November 4, 2016 of the President of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities on adjusting the doctoral thesis topic name.

7. Thesis topic name:The consciousness of sovereignty and national interests of some reformers in East Asia in the second half of the 19th century - early 20th century

8. Major: World History Code: 62.22.03.11

9. Scientific instructor:Prof. Dr. Nguyen Van Kim

10. Summary of new results of the thesis:

The thesis is the first research work from a Vietnamese perspective onSovereignty consciousness and national interests of some reformers in East Asia in the second half of the 19th century - early 20th century. Through analysis and comparative research of the consciousness of typical reformers in East Asia such as Fukuzawa Yukichi, Mongkut, Li Hongzhang and Nguyen Truong To with the reformers of the same period as well as the reformers of the next generation, the thesis not only focuses on analyzing and clarifying the causes and motivations leading to the formation of the consciousness of sovereignty and national interests of East Asian reformers but also points out the endogenous and exogenous factors leading to those changes, the role and the impacts of ideology and consciousness on the struggle to protect sovereignty and national interests of East Asian countries in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

The visible consequence is that while Japan successfully protected its sovereignty and national independence, Thailand maintained its basic sovereignty, China became a semi-colonial, semi-feudal country and Vietnam became a semi-colonial, semi-feudal country.

From the results achieved in the research process on sovereignty and national interests of some reformers in the East Asian region in the second half of the 19th century - early 20th century, the thesis wants to give some interpretations on the problems that Vietnam and other countries in the region have been and are facing today.

11. Practical application:

The thesis can be used as a reference for research and training at undergraduate and postgraduate levels in the fields of World History, International Relations, History of Thought, Political Science, Political Culture, Oriental Studies, etc.

12. Further research directions:

Currently, sovereignty and national interests in the consciousness of reformers have not been studied by many scholars and researchers in Vietnam. Therefore, the topic "The consciousness of sovereignty and national interests of some reformers in East Asia in the second half of the 19th century - early 20th century"needs further research, both in theory and practice. Many issues or directions for developing the topic can be opened up on the basis of the research results of the thesis such as:

- Continue to research and clarify further cultural, economic, political, social issues... of East Asian countries in modern times.

- Continue to delve into the theory of sovereignty and national interests, and analyze the relationship of this viewpoint and theory to the cognitive process as well as the protection of sovereignty and national interests in East Asian countries in the modern period.

- Along with the historical approach, the topic continues to be studied more specifically from the perspective of political science, international relations, political culture, etc. in order to provide authentic arguments about the process of movement and change in the way of looking at the issue of sovereignty, national interests as well as nationalism in the East Asia region from the modern period to the present.

13. Published works related to the thesis:

- Nguyen Tien Dung (2016), “Looking back at the process of receiving Western civilization in Siam (Thailand) under King Mongkut (1851-1868): Some lessons for Vietnam”, Proceedings of the International Scientific Conference:Culture and language of ethnic groups in the exchange between Southeast Asian countries,Thai Nguyen University Publishing House, Thai Nguyen, pp. 114-123.

- Nguyen Tien Dung (2016), “Looking back at the Siamese government's response to French colonialism under King Mongkut (1851-1868)”,Journal of Southeast Asian Studies(6), pp. 49-55.

- Nguyen Tien Dung (2016), “The Siamese government's response to British colonialism under King Mongkut (1851-1868)”,Journal of Historical Research(3), pp. 51-65.

- Nguyen Tien Dung (2016), “Looking back at the event of opening the Anglo-Siamese trade barrier in 1855”,Journal of Southeast Asian Studies(3), pp. 17-26.

- Nguyen Tien Dung (2013), “The Consciousness of National Sovereignty and Interests of Prominent Thai Reformers in the Second Half of the Nineteenth Century: A Comparison with Vietnam”,2^ndENITS Scholarship Research Presentation 2013,Institute of Thai Studies, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand, August15^th.

- Nguyen Tien Dung (2013), “The Consciousness of National Sovereignty and Interests of Prominent Vietnamese Reformists in the Second Half of the Nineteenth Century”,The 8^thAsian Graduate Forum on Southeast Asian Studies,Asia Research Institute, National University of Singapore, Singapore, July 24^th -26^th.

INFORMATION ON DOCTOTAL THESIS

1. Full name: Nguyen Tien Dung 2. Sex: Male

3. Date of birth: June 16, 1985 4. Place of birth: Hanoi

5. Admission decision number: Decision No. 140/QD-ĐNA of 28 September 2009 by the Director of the Institute for Southeast Asian Studies and Notice No. 2849/ĐHQGHN-ĐT of September 27, 2011 by the President of Vietnam National University, Hanoi allowing the doctoral candidate to continue his studies at the University of Social Sciences and Humanities.

6. Changes in academic process: Decision No. 342ª/QD-SĐH of 20 March 2012 by the Rector of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities on the change of the research question of the doctoral thesis and Decision No. 3670/QD-XHNV of 04 November 2016 by the Rector of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities on the modification of the name of the thesis.

7. Official thesis title: The Awareness of Sovereignty and National Interests among Some Reformers in East Asia in the Late 19^thand Early 20^thCentury.

8. Major: World History Code: 62.22.03.11

9. Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Nguyen Van Kim

10. Summary of the new findings of the thesis:

The thesis is among the first research, from the Vietnamese perspective, to examine the awareness of sovereignty and national interests among some reformers in East Asia in the late 19^thand early 20^thcenturies. By analyzing the awareness of renown reformers in East Asia such as Fukuzawa Yukichi, Mongkut, Li Hongzhang (Li Hung-Chang) and Nguyen Truong To and comparing it to that of later generation reformers, the thesis not only focuses on exploring the rationale and motivation for the development of the sense of awareness of sovereignty and national interests among Eastern Asian reformers but also points out factors, internal and external, leading to such development, as well as the role and impact of such ideology and awareness on the struggles for national sovereignty and interests in Eastern Asian countries in the late 19th^thand early 20^thcenturies

An apparent result is that, whereas Japan managed to protect its national sovereignty and independence and Thailand maintains its fundamental sovereignty, China became a partly colonized and partly feudal state and Vietnam a half feudal and half colonized country.

From its findings in the research into the awareness of sovereignty and national interests among some Eastern Asian reformers in the late 19^thand early 20^thcenturies, the thesis seeks to offer some explanations for issues which Vietnam and regional countries have been facing with.

11. Practical applicability:

The thesis can be used as reference material for research as well as undergraduate and postgraduate training in a number of disciplines such as History, International Relations Studies, History of Ideologies, Political Sciences, Political Culture, and Oriental Studies.

12. Further research directions:

Reformers' awareness of national sovereignty and interests has not received much attention from Vietnamese scholars or researchers. Therefore, the theme “The Awareness of Sovereignty and National Interests among Some Reformers in East Asia in the Late 19^th- Early 20^thCenter” needs to be further researched, both theoretical and practical. A good number of issues or ways of extending the topic can be opened up on the basis of the thesis, for example:

- Continuing to research and clarify cultural, economic, political and social issues of Eastern Asian countries in pre-modern times.

- Deepening theoretical research into national sovereignty and interests, and at the same time, analyzing the relationship of this point of view and theory with the process of awareness and protection of national sovereignty and interests in the Eastern Asian countries in pre-modern times.

- Besides the historical approach, the theme needs to be further examined from the perspectives of political sciences, international relations studies and political culture, so as to put forward valid arguments regarding the process of development and changes in perceptions of national sovereignty and interests as well as nationalism in East Asia since pre-modern times.

13. Thesis-related publications:

- Nguyen Tien Dung (2016), “In Retrospect of the Western Civilization Acquisition in Siam (Thailand) under King Mongkut Period (1851-1868): Some Experiences for Vietnam”, paper presented at International Conference onCultures and Languages ​​in the Interrelation among Southeast Asian Countries,Thai Nguyen University Publishing House, Thai Nguyen province, September, pp. 114-123.

- Nguyen Tien Dung (2016), “In Retrospect of Siam's Response to French Colonialism under King Mongkut's Era”,Journal of Southeast Asian Studies(6), pp. 49-55.

- Nguyen Tien Dung (2016), “The Siamsese Government's Response to the British Threats during the Period of the King Mongkut (1851-1868)”,Journal of Historical Studies(3), pp. 51-65.

- Nguyen Tien Dung (2016), “The Event of Opening the Trade Barrier between Great Britain and Siam in 1855: A Reconsideration”,Journal of Southeast Asian Studies(3), pp. 17-26.

- Nguyen Tien Dung (2013), “The Consciousness of National Sovereignty and Interests of Prominent Thai Reformers in the Second Half of the Nineteen Century: A Comparison with Vietnam”,2nd ENITS Scholarship Research Presentation 2013, Empowering Network for International Thai Studies (ENITS) Project, Institute of Thai Studies, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand, August 15th.

- Nguyen Tien Dung (2013), “The Consciousness of National Sovereignty and Interests of Prominent Vietnamese Reformists in the Second Half of the 19th Century”,8th Asian Graduate Forum on Southeast Asian Studies, Asia Research Institute, National University of Singapore, Singapore, July 24^th- 26^th.