Brandon T Condren

I am currently completing an MA in Political Science at the University of Nevada, Reno (expected graduation in August 2012). My areas of interested include Sino-Japanese relations, East Asian security and maritime issues, and political economy. I recently presented my professional paper at the 8th Łódź East Asia Meeting held June 4-5, 2012, at the University of Łódź, Poland. Entitled "Soft Power in Disputed Waters: The Charm Offensive, the China Threat, and the Risk of Conflict", the paper finds that Beijing's soft power moves in Southeast Asia are helping to reduce the risk of conflict in its maritime dispute in the South China Sea by reducing the perception of a China threat by the other parties to the dispute.