EDUCATION

PhD in International Relations, London School of Economics & Political Science Oct 2009-Oct 2013

Thesis title: “China-Russia Relations after the Cold War: The Process of Institution-Building and Its Impact on the Evolution of Bilateral Cooperation”

Supervisors: Professor Christopher Hughes & Dr Roy Allison Viva passed without corrections on 6 Feb 2014

Internal Examiner: Dr Natasha Kuhrt, Department of War Studies, King’s College London

External Examiner: Professor Peter Ferdinand, Department of Politics and International Studies, University of Warwick

Abstract: After three decades of seemingly insurmountable suspicion and bilateral crises, the post-Cold War period has witnessed a remarkable renewal and strengthening of Sino-Russian relations. Many of the underlying factors and circumstances contributing to the bilateral rapprochement of the past two decades remain yet to be analysed. This thesis illuminates the role of one of the factors involved in this process: the development of institutional links between the two states. Bilateral institutions, which were almost entirely absent until the mid-1990s, have now rapidly proliferated into a dense network of commissions and sub-commissions, working groups, and institutionalised exchanges, encompassing virtually all sectors of interaction between China and Russia. In addition, both countries are increasingly interacting in the framework of multilateral institutions and international organisations. This thesis examines what role the institutionalisation of Sino-Russian relations has played in enabling both states to forge a closer working relationship with each other. It begins by providing a brief comparative overview of the most common accounts of the factors that led to increasing Sino-Russian rapprochement in recent decades, assessing these factors through the lenses of relevant approaches in International Relations theory. It points out deficits in these common accounts, concluding that bilateral cooperation remained fraught with substantial problems and obstacles in all of these dimensions. Hence, these factors alone did not provide a policymaking context in which a persistent mutual rapprochement was particularly likely, let alone predetermined. The thesis then examines to what extent the process of institution-building has contributed to fostering and perpetuating bilateral rapprochement. It employs analytical concepts borrowed from Neoliberal Institutionalist theory and applies them in the context of several case studies of institution-building between China and Russia. It explores the extent to which the newly-created bilateral institutional channels have facilitated the implementation of cooperative policies between both countries by bringing together relevant stakeholders and rendering each country’s policy towards the other more stable, more predictable, and more well-informed.

M.Phil. in International Relations, University of Oxford Final Grade: 68.4 Oct 2006-Jun 2008

Dissertation: “Pragmatic Partners: Russian Foreign Policy towards China, 2000 to 2007”

Supervisor: Dr Alex Pravda

Courses included: Contemporary International Relations Theory, The Development of the International System since 1900,

The USSR and Russia in International Relations since 1945, Ideologies and Political Traditions, Quantitative Methods

B.A. (Hons) in Social and Political Sciences, University of Cambridge Final Grade: First Class 73.6 Oct 2003-Jun 2006

Courses included: Political Theory, Comparative Politics, Politics of Russia, Politics of the U.S.A., Sociology, Social Psychology

- Ranked 3rd of 111 students in the final exams

Fields of Specialisation: Sino-Russian relations, foreign policy analysis, international institutions, Russian foreign and security policy, Chinese foreign and security policy, international and domestic politics in the former Soviet Union, North-East Asian politics and security, International Relations theory, great power relations, energy trade in Eurasia, international law, international pol. economy

SCHOLARSHIPS & GRANTS

ESRC Studentship 2010-2013 (UK Research Council scholarship for PhD-Studies in the social sciences) – amount: £14,000

UK Economic and Social Research Council

LSE Partnership PhD Mobility Bursary 2012/13 for an academic visit to Peking University, Beijing – amount: £2,500

Peking University & London School of Economics & Political Science

Postgraduate Research Travel Grants 2011-12 for research-related travel to Russia, China, and Finland – amount: £3,000

London School of Economics & Political Science

International Relations Research Studentship 2009-2011 (bursary for PhD-Studies in International Relations) – amount: £1600

London School of Economics & Political Science

Scatcherd Scholarship 2006-08 (full scholarship for a two-year graduate degree at Oxford University) – amount: £25,000

University of Oxford

Gates Cambridge Scholarship 2006/07 (full scholarship for a graduate degree at Cambridge University) – amount: £13,400

Gates Cambridge Trust / Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation

AWARDS

Wellings Prize for the Arts 2006

Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge University

Fitzwilliam College Senior Scholar 2005/06

Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge University

H.D. Schmidt Prize for the Best Conceptual Essay Paper of the Year 2005

Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, Cambridge University

Irene Walker Scholarships for the Humanities (2004 and 2005)

Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge University

Burton Prizes for first class results in examinations (2004 and 2005)

Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge University

PUBLICATIONS

- Düben, Björn Alexander, ‘Processes of Institutionalisation and the Evolution of Sino-Russian Cooperation after the Cold War’, in: Kolotov, Vladimir (ed.), Aktual'nye Problemy Regional'noj Bezopasnosti Sovremennoj Azii i Afriki [Contemporary Problems of Regional Security in Asia and Africa] (St Petersburg: St Petersburg State University Press/Russian International Affairs Council, 2013)

Book chapter in an academic research volume featuring Russian and international scholars on regional security and cooperation in Asia and Africa (see http://russiancouncil.ru/library/?id_4=291)

- Düben, Björn Alexander, Isaiah Berlin and the Riga of His Time (Riga: National Library of Latvia, 2009)

Biographical study of the political theorist Isaiah Berlin, published by the National Library of Latvia as part of an international collaborative project supported by the European Commission

- Düben, Björn Alexander, ‘Die Interessen der Großmächte: Ressourcen-Poker in Zentralasien’, in: DGAP Analyse Kompakt (Berlin: Deutsche Gesellschaft für Auswärtige Politik, 25 Oct 2009)

Policy paper for the German Council on Foreign Relations (DGAP) on resource competition in Central Asia

- Düben, Björn Alexander, ‘Senkrechtstart mit viel Ballast – Russland plant, seine zivile Luftfahrt neu aus der Taufe zu heben’, in: DGAP Standpunkt No.8 (Berlin: Deutsche Gesellschaft für Auswärtige Politik, 10 Nov 2007)

Policy article for the German Council on Foreign Relations (DGAP) on the development of civilian aircraft manufacturing in Russia

Work in Progress:

- Düben, Björn Alexander, ‘The Ties That Bind: Contemporary China-Russia Relations and the Impact of Institutions’ (in preparation)

Academic journal article, approximate date of submission: September 2014

- Düben, Björn Alexander, ‘The Future of the Sino-Russian Partnership in the Wake of the Crisis in Ukraine’ (in preparation)

Policy article, approximate date of submission: early August 2014

ACADEMIC EXPERIENCE

Research and Organisational Experience:

Visiting Researcher, School of International Studies, Peking University, Beijing Sep 2012-Jan 2013

- Conducting extensive research on the Chinese perspective on contemporary Sino-Russian relations, under

the supervision of Professor Zhu Feng

- Participating in the organisation of seminars and workshops on East-Asian security and development

- Organising and conducting a series of research interviews with senior academics, analysts, and officials at

leading Chinese universities, think tanks, academies, and government agencies

Visiting Research Fellowship, German Council on Foreign Relations (DGAP), Berlin Aug-Sep 2007 &

- Conducting background analyses of political and economic developments in current Sino-Russian relations Jul-Sep 2009

- Conducting extensive research on current political and economic developments on behalf of the director of

the Council’s Russia and Eurasia Programme, including the compilation of daily reviews of the Russian press

- Assisting in the organisation of large-scale panel events, involving the German Foreign Minister and senior diplomats

- Liaising with economic stakeholders in Germany and Russia

Project Coordinator, Soros Foundation Latvia, Riga Jan-Jun 2009

- Co-organising a week-long international conference and seminar series (official supporters included the Embassies

of the U.K., the U.S.A., the Netherlands, and Israel to Latvia, the EU Commission, and the Latvian Foreign Ministry)

- Establishing a network of young scholars, journalists, and NGO-executives from Eastern Europe and the CIS

- Authoring and curating a major public exhibition at the Latvian National Library, which was organised in

cooperation with the EU Commission Representation, involving substantial thematic research

Part-time Project Worker, Soros Foundation Latvia, Riga Oct-Dec 2008

- Seeking and securing project funding and liaising with donors

Editorial Board Member, ‘Millennium: Journal of International Studies’, London Oct 2009-Mar 2011

Member, Oxford University Alastair Buchan Club for International Affairs Nov 2007-Jun 2008

Committee Member, Cambridge International Studies Association (CISA) Oct 2004-Jun 2006

- Organising lectures and panel discussions on international affairs with distinguished scholars and officials

- Co-organising the 2005 CISA Study Trip for Cambridge students and faculty to Serbia & Bosnia-Herzegovina

and the 2006 CISA Study Trip to Israel/Palestine

Teaching Experience:

Graduate Teaching Assistant, London School of Economics & Political Science Oct 2010-Jun 2012

- Teaching the undergraduate courses ‘The Structure of International Society’, ‘Introduction to International

Relations’, and ‘International Political Theory’ for two academic years at the LSE’s IR Department

- Planning weekly classes, seminars, and occasional lectures for multiple groups of students

- Organising and assessing student presentations and facilitating in-class discussions

- Writing background outlines, planning presentations and simulations on all major topics covered by the

courses, in order to ensure maximum learning impact among the students

- Marking exam scripts for the course exams, in tandem with a second examiner

- Marking a large number of formative essays throughout the academic years

- Conducting regular consultations with other teachers and course administrators to provide feedback and

suggest amendments to the course contents

Post-Graduate Certificate in Higher Education (PGCHE), London School of Economics & Political Science Oct 2010-Jun 2011

- Completing the Associate PGCHE, the primary professional qualification for lecturers and university teachers

in the UK, which provides a practical and theoretical grounding in learning and teaching in higher education

OTHER PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Research Analyst, Joseph Hage Aaronson LLP, London Dec 2013-ongoing

- Providing political and economic background analyses on cases involving very high-profile individuals and

institutions from countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) for a top-tier international law firm

Trainee, Foreign Ministry of the Republic of Poland, Warsaw Feb-Mar 2012

- Compiling diplomatic analyses of EU-Central Asia relations, European security strategies, and China-Russia relations

for the Ministry’s Department of Strategy and Planning

- Consulting junior diplomats on Chinese and Russian foreign and economic policies

Intern, Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in Latvia, Riga Jul-Sep 2008

- Drafting reports and analyses on current political developments for all major departments of the Embassy (political,

economic, legal, press, and cultural affairs)

- Compiling a detailed analysis of Latvian political parties and NGO’s, in particular regarding the newly-introduced

reforms of the system of political party financing

- Compiling and evaluating recent research on Russian-Baltic relations

- Providing research on Latvian legal questions and individual legal cases

- Assisting in the coordination of public events at the Embassy and the management of substantial cultural diplomacy grants

Intern, Friedrich Ebert Foundation, Bonn Aug-Sep 2004

- Conducting research for articles, book chapters, and data sets on political and economic topics

- Assisting in the publication of specialised journals and research compendia

Project worker, ‘Zhivaya Zemlya’ Agricultural Project, Bolotovo, Tula District (Russia) Jul 2002-Jul 2003

- Performing a variety of administrative, managerial, and manual tasks for a year-long agricultural project in Russia

Volunteer for short-term social (including teaching and pedagogical) projects in Bulgaria, Romania, and Ukraine 2001-2004

LANGUAGES

English German Russian French Spanish Mandarin

Reading: fluent fluent fluent fluent intermediate basic

Speaking: fluent fluent fluent intermediate intermediate basic

IT SKILLS

- Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint), STATA, EndNote, website design & management (HTML, FrontPage)

REFERENCES AVAILABLE ON REQUEST

- Professor Christopher R. Hughes

Head of Department, Department of International Relations

London School of Economics and Political Science

Houghton Street

London WC2A 2AE

Email: c.r.hughes@lse.ac.uk

Tel.: +44 (0)20 7955 6157

- Dr Roy Allison

Director, Centre for Russian and East European Studies

University of Oxford

62 Woodstock Road

Oxford OX2 6JF

Email: roy.allison@area.ox.ac.uk

Tel.: +44 (0)1865 284700

- Dr Harald Wydra

Fellow, Department of Politics and International Studies

University of Cambridge 7 West Road Cambridge CB3 9DT

Email: hbw23@cam.ac.uk

Tel.: +44 (0)1223 767265