Research

I am interested in the IR Theories, Political Communication, Public Diplomacy, and EU-China Relations. In particular, I focus on the "narrative" turn in IR and analyse the power of narratives which is different from the conventional understanding of soft power. I am interested in how narratives, especially the strategic narratives, are formed, projected, and perceived. More importantly, I take a bottom-up and non-state-centric approach to unpack the dynamics within the daily communication and communication practice. 

• Strategic narratives between the EU and China 

• Normative power 

• De-Eurocentrism 

• The Global IR and the Chinese IR school 

• Chinese diaspora communities in Europe

• Democracy and social inequality 

Peer-review journal article: 

• Mo, F. V., Tran Sautedé, E., & Tang, J. (2026). Diplomatic Bifurcation: China’s Dual Narratives on the Russia–Ukraine War in Global Times. Journal of Contemporary China, 1-18. https://doi.org/10.1080/10670564.2026.2656245 [SJR: Q1 in Political Science & International Relations]

• Lee, S. Y., Hu, Z., & Mo, V. F. (2026). Drivers and Strategies in China’s Intercity Competition for High-Skilled Migrants. Cities, 175, 107111. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cities.2026.107111 [SJR: Q1 in Sociology & Political Science, Development, and Urban Studies]

• Huang, V., & Mo, F. V. (2025). Local or bubble: Uses of mobile phone apps, IT identity and adaptation of non-local students in Hong Kong and the UK. Global Media and Communication, 21(1), 31-47. https://doi.org/10.1177/17427665251319727 [SJR: Q1 in Arts and Humanities, Q2 in Communication]

• Tran Sautedé, E., Mo, F. V. (corresponding author), & Tang, J. (2025). China and the Ukraine war: Global Times’ strategic narratives. Global Media and Communication, 21(1), 65-89. https://doi.org/10.1177/17427665251328117

• Tran Sautedé, E., & Mo, F. V. (2025). Digital diplomacy with Chinese characteristics: Evolving narratives, strategies and global impact. Global Media and Communication, 21(1), 3-7. https://doi.org/10.1177/17427665251340222

Book chapter: 

• Tran, E. & Mo, F. V. (2024). Chinese International Students and Europe: Push, Pull and Mooring Factors. In Handbook of Chinese Migration to Europe. Brill Publishers. https://brill.com/display/title/63002 

• Huang, V., Yang, Y., & Mo. F. V. Overseas Chinese podcast and the formation of an emerging diasporic community. In Palgrave Handbook of Humanities Podcasting. Palgrave, forthcoming in August 2025. 

Conference papers: 

• Mo, F. V. (2026). Contesting China in Europe: Bourdieu and Knowledge Production Field of EU. CEEISA Conference (Sarajevo)

• Mo, F. V. & Tang, J. W. (2026). The Sino-EU’ropean Transnational Subject: Navigating A Friction Territory of Governance in Hong Kong. CEEISA Conference (Sarajevo)

• Mo, F. V., Huang, V., Wang, A., & Tang, J. W. (2026). Defining the “Critical Juncture”: A Thematic Analysis of Crisis Narratives in Chinese Presidential New Year Speeches (2012-2026). The 33rd International Public Relations Research Symposium (Bled)

• Mo, F. V. (2025). Is Global IR Global yet? A Review of Chinese IR as Part of the Movement. The 18th Pan-European Conference on International Relations (Bologna)

• Mo, F. V. & Tang, J. W. (2025). Channels of Power: Structuring the Effectiveness of Chinese Strategic Narratives. The 18th Pan-European Conference on International Relations (Bologna)

• Mo, F. V., Tran, E., & Tang, J. W. (2025). Strategic Narratives on the Russia-Ukraine war: Comparing Global Times’ Chinese and English versions. The 65th International Studies Association Annual Convention (Chicago)

• Mo, F. V. (2024). The public diplomacy of Confucius Institutes: Textbook analysis in Austria. The 74th Annual International Communication Conference (Gold Coast)

• Mo, F. V. & Tang, J. W. (2024). The comradeship narratives disappeared: The identity politics between China and Hungary. IPSA Research Committees Colloquium (Chișinău)

• Wong, M. H. Y. & Mo, F. V. (2024). Social Polarisation and the Belief of Democracy and Redistribution. IPSA 75th Anniversary Conference (Lisbon)

• Mo, F. V. & Tang, J. W. (2023). The avoided memory between China and Hungary. Workshop: Bridging Emotions and Memory Politics: A New Angle on European Foreign Policy 2023.

• Mo, F. V. (2023). De-globalising IR. ECPR General Conference 2023 (Prague).

• Mo, F. V. (2023). The Role of EU Cultural Policy in the EU-China Relationships. The European Union in International Affairs Conference 2023 (Brussels).

• Mo, F. V. (2021). Reconsider Normative Power. ECPR General Conference 2021.

• Mo, F. V. (2020). Chinese Economic Nationalism in Hong Kong. International Association for Political Science Students World Congress 2020 (Vienna).