1. Full name of PhD student: LE THI PHUONG LOAN. 2. Gender: Female
3. Date of birth: August 18, 1984 4. Place of birth: Thanh Hoa
5. Decision on recognition of PhD students: No. 1806/2018/QD-XHNV dated June 29, 2018 of the President of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi.
6. Changes in training process (if any): extend training period to June 29, 2022
7. Thesis topic: US-ASEAN socio-cultural cooperation in the period 2009-2020
8. Major: International Relations 9. Code: 9310601.01
10. Scientific advisor: Prof. Dr. Hoang Khac Nam
11. Summary of new results of the thesis:
Research object: US socio-cultural cooperation with ASEAN in the period 2009 - 2020.
The general research objective of the thesis is to clarify the current status of US socio-cultural cooperation with ASEAN countries from 2009 to 2020 and the impact of this activity on ASEAN; on that basis, propose policy recommendations for Vietnam.
Research methods: The thesis uses interdisciplinary research methods of social sciences and humanities, and specific research methods such as: international relations research methods, document research methods, systematic research methods, historical methods, analysis and synthesis methods, forecasting methods and analyzing results through foreign affairs decisions.
Key results:
- The thesis, using international relations theories such as Liberalism, Constructivism and international cooperation, identified and analyzed the factors affecting the US's socio-cultural cooperation activities with ASEAN in the period of 2009 - 2020, including internal factors (interests of the US and ASEAN in socio-cultural cooperation with each other) and external factors (increasing cooperation trends in the world; the rise of non-traditional security risks requiring increased socio-cultural cooperation; the increasing role of ASEAN; and challenges for the US and ASEAN in the region requiring increased socio-cultural cooperation).
- The thesis analyzes the goals and content of the US's cultural and social cooperation policy in Southeast Asia.
- The thesis presents the practical implementation of cultural cooperation activities between the US and ASEAN, including programs and initiatives: performing arts, cultural heritage preservation, cinema, education and training. Social cooperation activities between the US and ASEAN include programs and initiatives: building capacity to connect young leaders, promoting democratic values and human rights, humanitarian activities, environmental protection, women's empowerment, and health.
- The thesis has identified and evaluated the US's cultural and social cooperation activities with ASEAN in the period of 2009 - 2020 and its impact; thereby forecasting the prospects of this cooperation activity, and proposing policy recommendations for Vietnam.
Conclude:
- The US's socio-cultural cooperation activities with ASEAN from 2009 to 2020 are an important part of the US's cooperation activities with ASEAN because of the interactions related to economic and security-political cooperation activities.
- The content of cultural and social cooperation, mainly implemented through cultural diplomacy and public diplomacy tools, is relatively rich, covering most cultural and social issues in US-ASEAN relations, and is diverse according to the needs and specific characteristics of each ASEAN member country.
- However, the implementation of cooperation activities is not continuous and uniform but is adjusted according to each presidential period. The Obama administration focuses on investing in activities to promote soft power and smart power through bilateral and multilateral cooperation with ASEAN on cultural and social issues so that ASEAN people have a more sympathetic and multi-dimensional view of the US, deepening understanding and connection between the people of both sides, contributing to increasing influence and presence in the region according to the US soft power mindset. On the contrary, President Donald Trump has cut the budget for his predecessor's initiatives to focus on developing the US economy, prioritizing jobs for the American people with the motto "America First".
- For ASEAN, socio-cultural cooperation activities with the US create opportunities for ASEAN to introduce its views and values, promote its central role in the regional multilateral mechanism, enhance ASEAN's capacity to respond to socio-cultural issues, promote international integration in the region, strengthen ASEAN's comprehensive cooperation with the US, and help ASEAN balance China's socio-cultural influence in the region.
New contributions of the Thesis:
It can be affirmed that the thesis is the first monograph in Vietnam to study the cultural and social cooperation activities of the US with ASEAN in the period 2009 - 2020. Therefore, the thesis has new contributions in terms of science, practice and documentation.
- In terms of science, the thesis is a systematic research work on the practical implementation of cultural and social cooperation activities between the US and ASEAN from 2009 to 2020; contributing to pointing out the factors affecting the cultural and social cooperation activities between the US and ASEAN, providing arguments to re-evaluate this cooperation in a more objective and comprehensive manner; thereby assessing the impact of cooperation programs and initiatives and proposing policy recommendations for Vietnam.
- In practice, the thesis suggests a number of policy recommendations for Vietnam in its cultural and social cooperation with the United States.
- Regarding materials, the thesis has collected, systematized materials and provided relatively rich information and materials on the practical implementation of US cultural and social cooperation activities with ASEAN; and will be an important source of reference for those interested in this topical issue.
12. Further research directions: US-Vietnam socio-cultural cooperation, socio-cultural factors in the process of promoting US soft power in Southeast Asia.
13. Publications related to the thesis:
- Le Thi Phuong Loan, Vo Thi Giang (2020), “ASEAN-US Economic cooperation and its Impacts on Regional Security and Development”, International Journal of Social Science and Economic Research Vol. 5 (10), pp.3103-3125.
- Le Thi Phuong Loan (2020), “American soft power in Southeast Asia from 2009 – 2019”, International Conference on Prospect of structure in Asia Pacific to 2025 and Viet Nam's response, pp.226-236.
- Le Thi Phuong Loan, Luong Anh Linh (2020), “The rise of cultural diplomacy in US – ASEAN in the first decades of the 21st century”, 2020 International Graduate Research Symposium & 10th East Asia Chinese Teaching Forum (2020 IGRS & 10th AECTF) at ULIS (1), pp.636 – 644.
- Le Thi Phuong Loan, Vo Thi Giang (2021), “Cultural diplomacy in Viet Nam's Foreign Policy in the period of 2001 – 2020”, Asian Journal of Arts, Culture and Tourism Vol. 3 (1), pp. 1-13.
INFORMATION ON DOCTORAL THESIS
1. Full name: LE THI PHUONG LOAN
2. Sex: Female
3. Date of birth: August 18th 1984
4. Place of birth: Thanh Hoa
5. Admission decision number 1806/2018/QD-XHNV dated June 29, 2018 by University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University – Ha Noi
6. Changes in academic process
7. Official thesis title: American Socio-cultural Cooperation with ASEAN from 2009-2020
8. Major: International Studies
9. Code: 9310601.01
10. Supervisors: Assoc.Prof.Dr. Hoang Khac Nam
11. Summary of the new findings of the thesis
Thesis Objectives: American Socio-cultural Cooperation with ASEAN from 2009-2020.
Thesis Purpose: clarify socio-cultural cooperation activities of the US towards ASEAN countries from 2009 to 2020 and evaluate their impacts on ASEAN, thereby considering policy recommendations for Vietnam.
The research methods employed in this thesis are interdisciplinary research methods in social sciences and humanities, namely: international relations research methods, literature review, systematic research, historical study, analysis and synthesis, prediction and findings analysis based on foreign policy decision-making processes.
The major results:
- The thesis, employing international relations theories ie Liberalism, Constructivism, and international cooperation, identified and analyzed factors affecting socio-cultural cooperation policies of the US towards ASEAN from 2009 to 2020 including national interests of both sides, increasing trend of international cooperation, emerging non-traditional security threats requiring socio-cultural cooperation, growing significance of ASEAN, and regional challenges requiring the US-ASEAN social-cultural cooperation.
- The thesis analyzed objectives and content of socio-cultural cooperation policies of the US towards countries in Southeast Asia.
- The thesis analyzes socio-cultural cooperation activities towards ASEAN including initiatives and exchange programs in performing arts, cultural heritage preservation, cinemas, education, capacity building for young leaders, enhancement of democratic values and human rights, humanitarian assistance, environmental protection, women empowerment, and health care assistance.
- The thesis evaluates the effectiveness and impacts of American socio-cultural cooperation activities with ASEAN in the period 2009-2020 as a basis for predicting their prospects, and proposes policy recommendations for Vietnam accordingly.
Conclusions:
- Socio-cultural cooperation activities of the US towards ASEAN from 2009 to 2020 have always been an important component in the U.S' foreign policies because of their impacts on economic, cooperation.
- The content of socio-cultural cooperation, mainly implemented via cultural diplomacy and public diplomacy tools, is relatively diverse addressing socio-cultural challenges in the US-ASEAN relations, and customized according to specific needs and socio-cultural characteristics of ASEAN member states.
- These cooperation activities have been constant and adjusted according to presidential administrations. The Obama administration focuses mainly on activities enhancing soft power and smart power in bilateral and multilateral cooperation with ASEAN to address socio-cultural issues with an aim at promoting friendlier and multidimensional perceptions toward the US and strengthening people-to-people ties between the two sides. In this sense, the US could enhance their presence and influence in the region with a soft power approach. The Trump administration, however, under the “America first” slogan, focuses on domestic economic development and employment for American citizens at the expense of budget for international affairs.
- Socio-cultural cooperation activities with the US helped ASEAN introduce their values and opinions, promote the ASEAN Centrality in multilateral mechanisms in the region, improve their capacity in addressing socio-cultural challenges of member states, facilitate regional integration, strengthen comprehensive cooperation relations with the US, and enable ASEAN to balance against Chinese socio-cultural influence.
12. Further research directions: American socio-cultural cooperation with Vietnam; The socio-cultural elements in American growing use of soft power in Southeast Asia.
13. Thesis-related publications
- Le Thi Phuong Loan, Vo Thi Giang (2020), “ASEAN-US Economic cooperation and its Impacts on Regional Security and Development”, International Journal of Social Science and Economic Research Vol. 5 (10), pp.3103-3125.
- Le Thi Phuong Loan (2020), “American soft power in Southeast Asia from 2009 – 2019”, International Conference on Prospect of structure in Asia Pacific to 2025 and Viet Nam's response, pp.226-236.
- Le Thi Phuong Loan, Luong Anh Linh (2020), “The rise of cultural diplomacy in US – ASEAN in the first decade of the 21st century”, 2020 International Graduate Research Symposium & 10th East Asia Chinese Teaching Forum (2020 IGRS & 10th AECTF) at ULIS (1), pp.636 – 644.
- Le Thi Phuong Loan, Vo Thi Giang (2021), “Cultural diplomacy in Vietnam's Foreign Policy in the period of 2001 – 2020”, Asian Journal of Arts, Culture and Tourism Vol. 3 (1), pp. 1-13.
