
Pekingology
China has emerged as one of the 21st century’s most consequential nations, making it more important than ever to understand how the country is governed. True to the name Pekingology, or the study of the political behavior of the People’s Republic of China, this podcast aims to unpack the behavior of the Chinese Communist Party and implications these actions have within China and for U.S.-China relations. Jude Blanchette, the Freeman Chair in China Studies at CSIS, is joined by various experts to analyze the activities of the Chinese governing system and how these impact the complex relationships relating to China.
Latest episodes

Mar 10, 2022 • 43min
The Xi Jinping Effect
In this week’s episode of Pekingology, Freeman Chair Jude Blanchette is joined by Ashley Esarey, an associate professor in the Department of Political Science at the University of Alberta, to discuss his recent paper, Propaganda as a Lens for Assessing Xi Jinping’s Leadership.

Feb 24, 2022 • 35min
Why Does the CCP Need a Core?
In this episode of Pekingology, Freeman Chair Jude Blanchette is join by Xuezhi Guo, the Lincoln Financial Professor of Political Science at Gilford College, to discuss his book, The Politics of the Core Leader in China: Culture, Institution, Legitimacy, and Power.

Feb 10, 2022 • 32min
Grading Xi Jinping
In this week’s episode of Pekingology, Freeman Chair Jude Blanchette is joined by Elizabeth Economy, a senior fellow at the Hoover Institution at Stanford University, currently on leave serving as senior advisor for China in the Department of Commerce. They discuss her evaluation of Xi Jinping’s leadership, as well as her new book, The World According to China.

Jan 27, 2022 • 31min
Democratic Centralism
In this episode of Pekingology, Freeman Chair Jude Blanchette is joined by Patricia Thornton, an Associate Professor of Chinese Politics at University of Oxford and Acting Chief Editor of The China Quarterly. They discuss her recent paper, Of Constitutions, Campaigns and Commissions: A Century of Democratic Centralism under the CCP.

Jan 13, 2022 • 29min
Performative Governance
In this episode of Pekingology, Freeman Chair Jude Blanchette is joined by Iza Ding, an Assistant Professor of Political Science at the University of Pittsburg, to discuss her paper, Performative Governance.

Dec 16, 2021 • 33min
From General Secretary to Chairman: Xi Jinping’s Third Road
In this episode of Pekingology, Freeman Chair Jude Blanchette is joined by Ling Li, a Lecturer in the Department of East Asian Studies at the University of Vienna, to discuss her essay, The Third Road: Where Will Xi Jinping Go in 2022?.

Dec 2, 2021 • 37min
Cyber Nationalism and Regime Support under Xi Jinping
In this week’s episode of Pekingology, Freeman Chair Jude Blanchette is joined by Rongbin Han, an Associate Professor in the Department of International Affairs at The University of Georgia, to discuss his recent paper, Cyber Nationalism and Regime Support under Xi Jinping: The Effects of the 2018 Constitutional Revision.

Nov 18, 2021 • 36min
Public Opinion in China
On this episode of Pekingology, Freeman Chair Jude Blanchette is joined by Rory Truex, an Assistant Professor of Politics and International Affairs at Princeton University, to discuss his research on public opinion in China.For more on Rory's work: https://www.rorytruex.com/research-areas

Oct 21, 2021 • 41min
Special Deals with Chinese Characteristics
In this episode of Pekingology, Freeman Chair Jude Blanchette is joined by Chang-Tai Hsieh, the Phyllis and Irwin Winkelried Professor of Economics at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, to discuss his recently co-authored paper, Special Deals with Chinese Characteristics.

Oct 7, 2021 • 39min
From Mao to Now
In this episode of Pekingology, Freeman Chair in China Studies Jude Blanchette is joined by David Shambaugh, the Gaston Sigur Professor of Asian Studies, Political Science & International Affairs, and the founding Director of the China Policy Program in the Elliott School of International Affairs at George Washington University, to discuss his new book, China's Leaders: From Mao to Now.
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