What happens after a Barbarian walks away from the Gate?
Apr 17, 2024
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Reflections on the challenges of recording a China-focused podcast from different countries, the future of academic exchanges between US and China, and the hosts' plans to delve into Chinese culture and history in upcoming episodes
Maintaining academic exchanges between China and the USA is crucial despite challenges like politicization.
The podcast plans to shift towards shorter, information-driven episodes exploring diverse topics for audience engagement.
Deep dives
Transition to Geneva and Impact on Podcasting from Beijing
David Moser discusses his upcoming relocation to Geneva, Switzerland, marking a shift from podcasting in Beijing. Concerns about maintaining podcasts from afar are raised, contemplating the challenge of preserving the nuanced, day-to-day insights acquired when physically present in China.
Renewed Academic Ties Between PRC and USA
Amidst concerns over academic decoupling between China and the USA, a recent push towards fostering international educational exchanges emerges. Efforts include initiatives like Xi Jinping's proposal to bring American students to China and a renewed focus on academic cooperation, emphasizing the importance of sustaining these ties.
Challenges in Academic Exchange and Program Offerings
Despite optimism about bolstering academic exchanges, challenges loom, especially pertaining to China's political dynamics influencing program content. The podcast delves into potential hurdles like politicization of educational efforts and shifting program structures, hinting at complexities within academic collaborations.
Future Podcast Evolution and Informative Focus
Moving forward, the podcast anticipates a shift towards shorter and more information-driven episodes, exploring diverse topics like Chinese history, media evolution, language nuances, and cultural insights. Emphasizing a blend of scholar interviews and informative discussions, the podcast aims to engage listeners with engaging and educational content.
This episode represents a new direction for the podcast, recorded on the eve of Jeremiah’s move to a new home base in Geneva. We start with a retrospective snapshot of the podcast’s beginnings – with many episodes recorded under the backdrop of COVID-19 – and then segue into our perennial concern, the plight of academic exchange in China, for which our consensus was “cautious optimism," while accepting an unsatisfying "new normal.” We sign off with future plans and ideas for the next phase of Barbarians at the Gate.
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