March 29, 2024

About the author

Gianluca Spezza

Gianluca Spezza earned his PhD in 2017 from the University of Central Lancashire under the supervision of Professor Hazel Smith, on the strength of research on the cooperation between UNICEF and the DPRK in education and childcare. Dr Spezza is an assistant professor of international relations and a senior researcher at the DPRK Strategy Center at KIMEP University in Almaty, Kazakhstan; he is writing a monograph on education, international cooperation, and human capital in North Korea (Palgrave 2021). His work on the DPRK, articles or interviews, can be found, among others, on the websites of the BBC, The Guardian, The Diplomat, IRIN News, NK News, DR.dk, Newsweek Korea, and El Confidential.

More articles by 'Gianluca Spezza'

Could we pay the North Korean elite to give up power and nukes?

Could we pay the North Korean elite to give up power and nukes?

A new book makes the case for a "reunification investment fund" for Kim Jong Un

Could we pay the North Korean elite to give up power and nukes?
Gianluca Spezza
Gianluca Spezza April 28, 2017
Overthinking North Korea’s Juche doctrine

Overthinking North Korea’s Juche doctrine

Lightning rod scholar Myers returns with detailed take on Pyongyang's 'official' doctrine, which Westerners consistently misinterpret

Overthinking North Korea’s Juche doctrine
Gianluca Spezza
Gianluca Spezza October 19, 2015
North Korea and the revolutionary football of 1966

North Korea and the revolutionary football of 1966

Disciplined, surprising performance at UK World Cup inspired devotion, 'total football' concept

North Korea and the revolutionary football of 1966
Gianluca Spezza
Gianluca Spezza April 17, 2015
The North’s history of stagnant development

The North’s history of stagnant development

Moving past a model that distrusted foreign ideas may be key to future success

The North’s history of stagnant development
Gianluca Spezza
Gianluca Spezza November 12, 2014
Childhood dreams, education and loyalty in North Korea

Childhood dreams, education and loyalty in North Korea

Visual/text project on North Korea analyzes media excerpts captured on instant film

Childhood dreams, education and loyalty in North Korea
Gianluca Spezza
Gianluca Spezza October 9, 2014
Why researching defectors takes creativity

Why researching defectors takes creativity

Academic says human relatability matters helps those studying refugees learn new information

Why researching defectors takes creativity
Gianluca Spezza
Gianluca Spezza October 2, 2014
North Korea through famine survivors’ eyes

North Korea through famine survivors’ eyes

Expert calls 1990s a period of surprising change for citizen-state relations

North Korea through famine survivors’ eyes
Gianluca Spezza
Gianluca Spezza October 1, 2014
Famine survivors used humor to cope – Interview

Famine survivors used humor to cope – Interview

Academic who talked with defectors finds many feel ambivalent about N. Korean government

Famine survivors used humor to cope – Interview
Gianluca Spezza
Gianluca Spezza October 1, 2014
Book review – Visual Politics and North Korea: Seeing is Believing

Book review – Visual Politics and North Korea: Seeing is Believing

Study underlines the connection between visual culture and international relations, offering new insights into North Korea

Book review – Visual Politics and North Korea: Seeing is Believing
Gianluca Spezza
Gianluca Spezza September 16, 2014
From satellites to novels: New names in North Korean studies, part 3

From satellites to novels: New names in North Korean studies, part 3

Insights into N. Korea through satellite imagery, fiction, famine analysis and nationalism studies

From satellites to novels: New names in North Korean studies, part 3
Gianluca Spezza
Gianluca Spezza June 10, 2014
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