Congratulations to Alin Barbantan on his successful viva

We are delighted to announce that Alin Barbantan has successfully passed his PhD viva with minor corrections. In his thesis, entitled: ‘Pacific Dream? The evolution of US strategic culture and alliances in the Indo-Pacific, 2001-2022’ Alin analyses US strategic thinking - especially in relation to China - behind the evolution of the post-war alliance network in the Pacific from the origins of the so-called San Francisco system centred on Japan (1951-2001) to the QUAD, QUAD Plus and AUKUS of today.

Alin says about his time at UCL Institute of the Americas: 'I'm very happy to see the PhD completed, and I want to thank my supervisors and everyone at the Institute of the Americas for being a wonderful community. Now, at the end of the research, looking back, I come to realise just how essential it was to stay connected to my PhD colleagues and everyone at the Institute. The pandemic changed a few of my plans for the PhD, nevertheless, I am happy to say that my commitment to get the thesis done was far stronger than anything else. I have spent a number of years in the UK, and the Institute has been one of the most constant features of these years, and for that, I am very grateful.'

Alin’s external examiner was Dr Mara Oliva, his internal was Professor Gareth Davies. His primary supervisor was Dr Tony McCulloch and his secondary supervisor was Professor (Emeritus) Iwan Morgan.

Congratulations, Dr Alin Barbantan!

Links:

Dr Alin Barbantan | Doctoral profile

Professor Gareth Davies | academic profile

Dr Tony McCulloch | academic profile

Professor (Emeritus) Iwan Morgan | academic profile

Image:

Dr Alin Barbantan