Pekingology

Courtney Fung, an Associate Professor in Security Studies at Macquarie University, delves into China’s strategic maneuvers within the UN. She outlines China's shift from reluctance to active participation in peacekeeping since 2013, framing it against the backdrop of domestic politics. The conversation also covers the tragic incidents involving Chinese peacekeepers in South Sudan, revealing the complex interplay of safety, accountability, and China's ambitions in global governance. Fung highlights how these dynamics reshape international discourse and peacekeeping policies.

Jude Blanchette, a Freeman Chair in China Studies, teams up with Manoj Kewalramani, an expert in Indo-Pacific studies, to dissect Sino-India relations. They dive into the complexities of interpreting Beijing’s dynamics and the evolution of dialogue under Xi Jinping. Challenges like the Doklam standoff and the strategic roles of SCO and BRICS are discussed, along with India's rising prospects as a global supply chain alternative to China. Their insights illuminate the intricacies of geopolitical rivalries and economic interdependencies.

Former U.S. Ambassador to China, Nicholas Burns, reflects on U.S.-China relations and Chinese export strategies. Discussion includes economic implications of China's third plenum, evolving dynamics in the relationship, societal connections, and challenges in finding a balance between engagement and competition.

In this episode of Pekingology, Freeman Chair in China Studies Jude Blanchette is joined by Rory Truex, Associate Professor of Politics and International Affairs at Princeton University. They discuss Timur Kuran’s seminal 1991 paper Now Out of Never: The Element of Surprise in the East European Revolution of 1989. (World Politics, October 1991)

Professor Jessica Teets from Middlebury College and Jude Blanchette discuss resilient authoritarianism in China, focusing on public comment periods and citizen interaction with policymakers. They analyze Xi Jinping's governance style, the impact on Chinese politics, and the regime's resiliency in 2024, emphasizing a responsive government and economic strategy.

Dylan Loh Ming Hui, Assistant Professor at Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, discusses his book on China's assertive diplomacy with Jude Blanchette. They explore China's Foreign Ministry complexities, qualitative ethnographic research on diplomatic practices, the Ministry's powers in decision-making, and the influence of technology on their communication strategies.

Yeling Tan, Professor at Oxford University and PIIE, discusses China's entry into the WTO, contrasting SOE reform approaches, and the impact of revoking PNTR. They explore China's economic system challenges within the WTO framework, the US economy's costs in ending PNTR with China, and implications for global trade and leadership.

Jacob Stokes, Senior Fellow at CNAS, joins to discuss China's foreign policy under Xi Jinping. They explore trends like personalization around Xi, party empowerment, regime security prioritization, and assertiveness in diplomacy. Stokes emphasizes the importance of understanding these decision-making processes and the complexities involved in China's policy mechanisms.

Audrey Wong, a political science professor, discusses China's economic coercion tactics and patriotic consumer mobilization. They explore the complexities of China's statecraft, the challenges faced in navigating between coercion and persuasion, and the impact on companies like Lotte and H&M. The podcast delves into China's strategic narrative shaping, the interplay between nationalist sentiments and state propaganda, and the potential shift towards using inducements in economic statecraft.

Freeman Chair in China Studies Jude Blanchette and Stanford Professor Andrew Walder discuss China's extreme inequality, exploring economic reform, social mobility, party membership, wealth accumulation, income distribution, socialist ideology, and structural challenges. They debate the roots of inequality, potential future scenarios, Xi Jinping's leadership, and geopolitical dynamics in China.