This course examines and analyzes China’s foreign relations, focusing primarily on the post-Cold War period. The course starts by looking at the domestic sources (e.g. cultural, historical, ideological and political factors and key decision makers) of Chinese foreign policy. It then examines Chinese foreign policy behavior in the area of economics, global governance and security. The last part of the course examines the various regional and bilateral dynamics of China’s foreign relations with special attention paid to U.S.-China relations and China’s relations with Asia. Upon conclusion of the course, students will be able to provide sophisticated and well-researched commentary to the ongoing debate of the role a growing China will play in future world affairs.
The course also seeks to develop certain skills through various assignments such as student presentation and the NIE estimate. These skills include summarizing and analyzing sources by identifying their thesis and supporting arguments, forecasting the future of bilateral relationships by drawing on relevant written sources, oral presentation and teamwork.
Prerequisites:
None, although coursework in Comparative Politics, International Politics or International Relations theory will be helpful.
Attendance policy:
Regular attendance is crucial to your success in this class, and to the success of the class overall. IES has an attendance policy that will be enforced in this class. Each unexcused absence will result in your overall grade being lowered a step (e.g. from a B+ to a B). Proper documentation must be provided for all absences (see IES Handbook for guidelines about documenting absences). Being on time is also appreciated. Students should show up for class at least five minutes before class starts. Lateness will be penalized.
Learning outcomes:
By the end of the course, students will be able to:
Develop an understanding of the recent history, and geopolitics, of China’s foreign relations.
Be able to identify and evaluate the domestic sources of Chinese foreign policy.
Be able to identify and evaluate the main issues and challenges in China’s foreign relations in the areas of economics, global governance and security.
Become familiar with China’s foreign relations with different regions of the world in the post-Cold War era, particularly the U.S.-China and China-Asia relationship.
Be able to summarize, analyze and compare primary and secondary sources on China’s foreign relations, and present your analysis in class.
Be able to research, evaluate and forecast the future of one of China’s bilateral relationships.
Method of presentation:
Lectures and student presentations and discussion. This course is organized as a seminar where students will play an important part in discussing the readings.
Field study:
This course includes field trips to the Foreign Legation Quarter, the Foreign Affairs College and the U.S. Embassy.
Required work and form of assessment:
Your course grade will be based on the following areas:
Attendance and Participation: 20%
Response Papers/Student Presentations: 20%
Midterm and Quizzes: 30%
NIE Assessment: 30% (20% grade for written report, 10% for the oral presentation)
Effort and improvement will be taken into account.
Grading. Grades are assigned according to the following point system.
A 93-100
A- 90-92
B 83-86
B- 80-82
B+ 87-89
B- 80-82
C+ 77-79
C 73-76
C- 70-72
D+ 67-69
D 63-66
F 62 or less
The criteria for grades are spelled out in the Course Catalog. They are summarized briefly as follows:
C work is adequate. It means you were able to recall the basic subject matter of the course, apply that knowledge in discussions and written assignments, and express your ideas and arguments in an intelligible but undistinguished fashion.
B work is good. It means you were able to follow directions, recall more than just the basic elements, apply that knowledge in a way that makes connections with your own beliefs, other knowledge gained in this or other courses and to the world around you, and express your ideas and arguments clearly and concisely.
A work is excellent. It means you were able to follow directions, show a mastery of the subject matter, apply the knowledge in a critical and original manner, and express your ideas and arguments in a clear and persuasive manner.
Class Attendance and Participation (20%). Regular attendance is crucial to your success in this class, and to the success of the class overall. IES has an attendance policy that will be enforced in this class. Each unexcused absence will result in your overall grade being lowered a step (e.g. from a B+ to a B). Proper documentation must be provided for all absences (see IES Handbook for guidelines about documenting absences). Being on time is also appreciated. Students should show up for class at least five minutes before class starts. Lateness will be penalized.
Student participation is an important part of your grade. You will be encouraged to be an active, assertive and thoughtful participant in class discussions. Your participation grade will be based on the following:
Your participation in discussing current events drawn from your reading of newspapers.
The quality of your discussion of the assigned reading material on the days you will be asked to lead a discussion of a class reading.
Courtesy and respect for other students. Allow other students a chance to express themselves.
Courtesy and respect for the instructor. You are expected to stay in class for the entire period and not take bathroom or water breaks unless it is an emergency.
Contribution to thoughtful discussion. You are expected to ask be attentive and inquisitive, ask questions and otherwise express yourself in a thoughtful manner.
Response Papers/Student Presentation (20%): During each class session, students will prepare a one- page, single-spaced response to an assigned reading discussing the author’s main thesis and supporting points, and present it in class. Good response papers should also discuss how the readings apply to the broader scope of the course and provide questions for discussion.
Midterm and Quizzes (30%). There will be a midterm, and announced and unannounced quizzes on geography and the readings.
NIE Assessment (30%): This assignment is an exercise in forecasting. Students will play the role of members of the National Intelligence Council, and assigned to write a National Intelligence Estimate (NIE) on the future relationship between China and a country, region or international organization. Depending on the number of people in class, and interest, students will either work individually or be organized into groups. A final written report will be submitted by each individual on the last week of class and each individual/group will give a 20 minute presentation followed by a 10 minute Q&A session led by the instructor. The written report should be 10 tightly-written double-spaced pages, including an Executive Summary of 300 words, and should forecast 2-3 years into the future what China’s relations with the country/region/organization selected will look like and why, i.e. what are the principal variables and factors that have previously shaped the chosen relationship and how will they impact on its future evolution. If presenting as a group, students will be graded both as a group and as individuals on their oral presentation.
Deadline extensions must also be requested in advance, and will be granted only in exceptional cases. If you do not request an extension in advance and hand your assignment in late, your grade for that assignment will be lowered one step (B+ to a B, B to a B-, etc.) for every day it is late.
All students are expected to adhere to high standards of academic honesty. Cheating or plagiarism are not acceptable under any conditions.
OFFICE HOURS: 2:30-4:00 on class days
content:
Feb. 12 Introduction to the class
Feb. 16 NO CLASS – SPRING FESTIVAL BREAK
Feb. 18 International Relations and the Study of China’s Foreign Policy
Henry R. Nau, Ch.1 “How to Think About International Relations” (Coursepack)
Nathan and Ross, Foreword in The Great Walll and Empty Fortress(Coursepack)
Sutter, Ch.1
PART I DOMESTIC SOURCES OF CHINA’S FOREIGN POLICY
Feb. 20 (Makeup class)
Michael Hunt, Chapter 1, “The Pertinence of the Past”, in The Genesis of Chinese
Communist Foreign Policy;
Nathan and Ross, Chs. 1 and 2 in The Great Wall and the Empty Fortress(Coursepack)
Feb. 23 FIELDTRIP TO THE FOREIGN LEGATION QUARTER
Feb. 26 China’s Foreign Policy Priorities
Sutter, Ch. 2
Fei-ling Wang,”Beijing’s Incentive Structure: Preservation, Prosperity and Power” in China Rising;
Peter Gries, “Nationalism and Chinese Foreign Policy” in China Rising(Coursepack)
March 2 Leonard, Ch. 3: Comprehensive National Power, in What Does China Think?;
Yong Deng, “Better than Power: “International Status” in Chinese Foreign Policy” and
Ming Wan, “Democracy and Human Rights in Chinese Foreign Policy” in China Rising(Coursepack)
March 3-13 NO CLASS -- MOBILE LEARNING TRIP
March 16 China’s Foreign Policy Decision Making
Sutter, Ch.3
Lu Ning, “The Central Leadership, Supraministry Coordinating Bodies, State Council
Ministries, and Party Departments” and
Tai Ming Cheung, “The Influence of the Gun”, in The Making of Chinese and Security Policy(Coursepack)
March 19 FIELDTRIP TO FOREIGN AFFAIRS COLLEGE
PART II CHINA’S FOREIGN POLICY: ECONOMICS, GLOBAL GOVERNANCE AND SECURITY
March 23 Sutter, Ch. 4, pp.91-112
Margaret Pearson, “China in Geneva: Lessons from China’s Early Years in the WTO” in New
Directions in the Study of China’s Foreign Policy;
Yang Yi, “Domestic Constraints and International Forces: Exploring China’s Position on
International Climate Change Policy”
March 26 Sutter, Ch. 4, pp.112-122 and Sutter, Ch.5
Allen Carlson, “More Than Just Saying No: China’s Evolving Approach to Sovereignty and
Intervention” in New Directions in the Study of China’s Foreign Policy;
Bates Gill, “China’s Evolving Regional Security Strategy” in Power Shift(Coursepack)
March 30 Thomas Christensen, “Windows and War: Trend Analysis and Beijing’s Use of Force,” in New
Directions in the Study of China’s Foreign Policy;
M. Taylor Fravel, China’s Search for Military Power,” Washington Quarterly;
Andrew Scobell, “Terrorism and Chinese Foreign Policy” in China Rising. (Coursepack)
April 2 MIDTERM
PART III REGIONAL AND BILATERAL DYNAMICS
April 6 China and the U.S., Part I
Nathan and Ross, Ch.4 in The Great Walll and Empty Fortress
Sutter, Ch. 6
Peter Hays Gries, “Problems of Misperception in U.S.-China Relations”, Orbis (Coursepack)
April 9 China and the U.S., Part II
Aaron L. Friedberg, “The Future of U.S.-China Relations: Is Conflict Inevitable?”, International Security;
Henry M. Paulson, Jr., “A Strategic Economic Engagement: Strengthening U.S.-Chinese
Ties”, Foreign Affairs;
Elizabeth C. Economy & Adam Segal, “The G-2 Mirage: Why the United States and China
Are Not Ready to Upgrade Ties”, Foreign Affairs(Coursepack)
April 13 China and the U.S., Part III: Case studies
Wu Xinbo, Understanding Chinese and U.S. Crisis Behavior, The Washington Quarterly;
Jonathan Pollack, “Energy Insecurity and Sino-U.S. Relations,” Journal of Contemporary China (Coursepack)
April 16 FIELDTRIP TO THE U.S. EMBASSY April 20 China and Taiwan
Sutter, Ch. 7
Richard Bush, “Taiwan Faces China,” in Power Shift;
Wang Jianwei, “Time for ‘New Thinking’ on Taiwan,” China Security;
Lin Chong-pin, “More Carrot than Stick: China’s Emerging Taiwan Policy,” China Security. (Coursepack)
April 23 China, Japan and Korea
Sutter, Ch.8
Mike Mochizuki, “China-Japan Relations” and Jae Ho Chung, “China’s Ascendancy and the
Korean Peninsula” in Power Shift;
Bonnie Glaser, China’s Policy in the Wake of the Second DPRK Nuclear Test”, China Security (Coursepack)
April 27 China and South/Southeast Asia
Sutter, Chs. 9 and 10
Jing-dong Yuan, “The Dragon and the Elephant: Chinese-Indian Relations in the 21st
Century”, The Washington Quarterly(Coursepack)
April 30 NO CLASS – LONG WEEKEND
May 4 China, Russia and Europe
Sutter, Ch.11
Yu Bin, “China and Russia” in Power Shift;
Margot Schuller, “The EU’s Policy Toward China on Economic Issues” and Bates Gill, “European Union-China Cooperation on Security Issues”, in American and European Relations with China.
May 7 China, Africa, the Middle East and Latin America
Sutter, Ch. 12
Bates Gill, Chin-hao Huang & J. Stephen Morrison, “Assessing China’s Growing Influence in
Africa”, China Security;
Shen Dingli, “Iran’s Nuclear Ambitions Test China’s Wisdom”, The Washington Quarterly. (Coursepack)
May 11 NIE Assessment Presentations
May 14 NIE Assessment Presentations
May 17-23 EXAM WEEK (NO FINAL EXAM)
Required readings:
Robert Sutter, Chinese Foreign Relations: Power and Policy Since the Cold War (2009)
Coursepack: The course reader is a compilation of sources on Chinese foreign policy and China in
international affairs written by Chinese and Western scholars.
Regular reading of: The New York Times at www.nytimes.com; The Washington Post at www.washingtonpost.com; the English-language version of the Chinese Communist Party’s official newspaper, The People’s Daily (Renmin Ribao) at english.peopledaily.com.cn; or the Chinese government’s English-language newspaper, China Daily at www.chinadaily.com.cn. You should be prepared to give a brief analysis of a news report on current affairs related to China’s foreign relations from either the Chinese or English news media at the beginning of each class period.
Note that readings are assigned on the day prior to when they will be discussed.
Brief Biography of Instructor:
Shawn (Shih-hung) Shieh was previously an Associate Professor of Political Science at Marist College in Poughkeepsie, New York. He has been teaching, traveling, working, and doing research in China since 1984 when he took a leave of absence from his graduate studies in creative writing to teach English at Zhejiang University in Hangzhou. He received his Ph.D. in Political Science at Columbia University where he specialized in Chinese politics. He has taught a wide range of courses on political thought, international politics, Chinese/Asian politics, and U.S.-China Relations, and has led two student groups to China.
He has written and published a number of articles and book chapters on central-provincial relations, government-business relations, corruption and civil society in China in leading journals like The China Journal and Journal of Contemporary China. He is the coeditor of State and Society Responses to Social Welfare Needs in China: Serving the People (Routledge, 2009). This book examines the role of government and NGOs in responding to environmental, migrant labor, child welfare, and public health issues in contemporary China. He is currently working on a book on social activism and civil society in China.
A Changing China In International Affairs
This course examines and analyzes China’s foreign relations, focusing primarily on the post-Cold War period. The course starts by looking at the domestic sources (e.g. cultural, historical, ideological and political factors and key decision makers) of Chinese foreign policy. It then examines Chinese foreign policy behavior in the area of economics, global governance and security. The last part of the course examines the various regional and bilateral dynamics of China’s foreign relations with special attention paid to U.S.-China relations and China’s relations with Asia. Upon conclusion of the course, students will be able to provide sophisticated and well-researched commentary to the ongoing debate of the role a growing China will play in future world affairs.
The course also seeks to develop certain skills through various assignments such as student presentation and the NIE estimate. These skills include summarizing and analyzing sources by identifying their thesis and supporting arguments, forecasting the future of bilateral relationships by drawing on relevant written sources, oral presentation and teamwork.
None, although coursework in Comparative Politics, International Politics or International Relations theory will be helpful.
Regular attendance is crucial to your success in this class, and to the success of the class overall. IES has an attendance policy that will be enforced in this class. Each unexcused absence will result in your overall grade being lowered a step (e.g. from a B+ to a B). Proper documentation must be provided for all absences (see IES Handbook for guidelines about documenting absences). Being on time is also appreciated. Students should show up for class at least five minutes before class starts. Lateness will be penalized.
By the end of the course, students will be able to:
Lectures and student presentations and discussion. This course is organized as a seminar where students will play an important part in discussing the readings.
This course includes field trips to the Foreign Legation Quarter, the Foreign Affairs College and the U.S. Embassy.
Your course grade will be based on the following areas:
Attendance and Participation: 20%
Response Papers/Student Presentations: 20%
Midterm and Quizzes: 30%
NIE Assessment: 30% (20% grade for written report, 10% for the oral presentation)
Effort and improvement will be taken into account.
Grading. Grades are assigned according to the following point system.
A 93-100
A- 90-92
B 83-86
B- 80-82
B+ 87-89
B- 80-82
C+ 77-79
C 73-76
C- 70-72
D+ 67-69
D 63-66
F 62 or less
The criteria for grades are spelled out in the Course Catalog. They are summarized briefly as follows:
C work is adequate. It means you were able to recall the basic subject matter of the course, apply that knowledge in discussions and written assignments, and express your ideas and arguments in an intelligible but undistinguished fashion.
B work is good. It means you were able to follow directions, recall more than just the basic elements, apply that knowledge in a way that makes connections with your own beliefs, other knowledge gained in this or other courses and to the world around you, and express your ideas and arguments clearly and concisely.
A work is excellent. It means you were able to follow directions, show a mastery of the subject matter, apply the knowledge in a critical and original manner, and express your ideas and arguments in a clear and persuasive manner.
Class Attendance and Participation (20%). Regular attendance is crucial to your success in this class, and to the success of the class overall. IES has an attendance policy that will be enforced in this class. Each unexcused absence will result in your overall grade being lowered a step (e.g. from a B+ to a B). Proper documentation must be provided for all absences (see IES Handbook for guidelines about documenting absences). Being on time is also appreciated. Students should show up for class at least five minutes before class starts. Lateness will be penalized.
Student participation is an important part of your grade. You will be encouraged to be an active, assertive and thoughtful participant in class discussions. Your participation grade will be based on the following:
Response Papers/Student Presentation (20%): During each class session, students will prepare a one- page, single-spaced response to an assigned reading discussing the author’s main thesis and supporting points, and present it in class. Good response papers should also discuss how the readings apply to the broader scope of the course and provide questions for discussion.
Midterm and Quizzes (30%). There will be a midterm, and announced and unannounced quizzes on geography and the readings.
NIE Assessment (30%): This assignment is an exercise in forecasting. Students will play the role of members of the National Intelligence Council, and assigned to write a National Intelligence Estimate (NIE) on the future relationship between China and a country, region or international organization. Depending on the number of people in class, and interest, students will either work individually or be organized into groups. A final written report will be submitted by each individual on the last week of class and each individual/group will give a 20 minute presentation followed by a 10 minute Q&A session led by the instructor. The written report should be 10 tightly-written double-spaced pages, including an Executive Summary of 300 words, and should forecast 2-3 years into the future what China’s relations with the country/region/organization selected will look like and why, i.e. what are the principal variables and factors that have previously shaped the chosen relationship and how will they impact on its future evolution. If presenting as a group, students will be graded both as a group and as individuals on their oral presentation.
Deadline extensions must also be requested in advance, and will be granted only in exceptional cases. If you do not request an extension in advance and hand your assignment in late, your grade for that assignment will be lowered one step (B+ to a B, B to a B-, etc.) for every day it is late.
All students are expected to adhere to high standards of academic honesty. Cheating or plagiarism are not acceptable under any conditions.
OFFICE HOURS: 2:30-4:00 on class days
Feb. 12 Introduction to the class
Feb. 16 NO CLASS – SPRING FESTIVAL BREAK
Feb. 18 International Relations and the Study of China’s Foreign Policy
Henry R. Nau, Ch.1 “How to Think About International Relations” (Coursepack)
Nathan and Ross, Foreword in The Great Walll and Empty Fortress (Coursepack)
Sutter, Ch.1
PART I DOMESTIC SOURCES OF CHINA’S FOREIGN POLICY
Feb. 20 (Makeup class)
Michael Hunt, Chapter 1, “The Pertinence of the Past”, in The Genesis of Chinese
Communist Foreign Policy;
Nathan and Ross, Chs. 1 and 2 in The Great Wall and the Empty Fortress (Coursepack)
Feb. 23 FIELDTRIP TO THE FOREIGN LEGATION QUARTER
Feb. 26 China’s Foreign Policy Priorities
Sutter, Ch. 2
Fei-ling Wang,”Beijing’s Incentive Structure: Preservation, Prosperity and Power” in China Rising;
Peter Gries, “Nationalism and Chinese Foreign Policy” in China Rising (Coursepack)
March 2 Leonard, Ch. 3: Comprehensive National Power, in What Does China Think?;
Yong Deng, “Better than Power: “International Status” in Chinese Foreign Policy” and
Ming Wan, “Democracy and Human Rights in Chinese Foreign Policy” in China Rising (Coursepack)
March 3-13 NO CLASS -- MOBILE LEARNING TRIP
March 16 China’s Foreign Policy Decision Making
Sutter, Ch.3
Lu Ning, “The Central Leadership, Supraministry Coordinating Bodies, State Council
Ministries, and Party Departments” and
Tai Ming Cheung, “The Influence of the Gun”, in The Making of Chinese and Security Policy (Coursepack)
March 19 FIELDTRIP TO FOREIGN AFFAIRS COLLEGE
PART II CHINA’S FOREIGN POLICY: ECONOMICS, GLOBAL GOVERNANCE AND SECURITY
March 23 Sutter, Ch. 4, pp.91-112
Margaret Pearson, “China in Geneva: Lessons from China’s Early Years in the WTO” in New
Directions in the Study of China’s Foreign Policy;
Yang Yi, “Domestic Constraints and International Forces: Exploring China’s Position on
International Climate Change Policy”
March 26 Sutter, Ch. 4, pp.112-122 and Sutter, Ch.5
Allen Carlson, “More Than Just Saying No: China’s Evolving Approach to Sovereignty and
Intervention” in New Directions in the Study of China’s Foreign Policy;
Bates Gill, “China’s Evolving Regional Security Strategy” in Power Shift (Coursepack)
March 30 Thomas Christensen, “Windows and War: Trend Analysis and Beijing’s Use of Force,” in New
Directions in the Study of China’s Foreign Policy;
M. Taylor Fravel, China’s Search for Military Power,” Washington Quarterly;
Andrew Scobell, “Terrorism and Chinese Foreign Policy” in China Rising. (Coursepack)
April 2 MIDTERM
PART III REGIONAL AND BILATERAL DYNAMICS
April 6 China and the U.S., Part I
Nathan and Ross, Ch.4 in The Great Walll and Empty Fortress
Sutter, Ch. 6
Peter Hays Gries, “Problems of Misperception in U.S.-China Relations”, Orbis (Coursepack)
April 9 China and the U.S., Part II
Aaron L. Friedberg, “The Future of U.S.-China Relations: Is Conflict Inevitable?”,
International Security;
Henry M. Paulson, Jr., “A Strategic Economic Engagement: Strengthening U.S.-Chinese
Ties”, Foreign Affairs;
Elizabeth C. Economy & Adam Segal, “The G-2 Mirage: Why the United States and China
Are Not Ready to Upgrade Ties”, Foreign Affairs (Coursepack)
April 13 China and the U.S., Part III: Case studies
Wu Xinbo, Understanding Chinese and U.S. Crisis Behavior, The Washington Quarterly;
Jonathan Pollack, “Energy Insecurity and Sino-U.S. Relations,” Journal of Contemporary China (Coursepack)
April 16 FIELDTRIP TO THE U.S. EMBASSY April 20 China and Taiwan
Sutter, Ch. 7
Richard Bush, “Taiwan Faces China,” in Power Shift;
Wang Jianwei, “Time for ‘New Thinking’ on Taiwan,” China Security;
Lin Chong-pin, “More Carrot than Stick: China’s Emerging Taiwan Policy,” China Security.
(Coursepack)
April 23 China, Japan and Korea
Sutter, Ch.8
Mike Mochizuki, “China-Japan Relations” and Jae Ho Chung, “China’s Ascendancy and the
Korean Peninsula” in Power Shift;
Bonnie Glaser, China’s Policy in the Wake of the Second DPRK Nuclear Test”, China Security (Coursepack)
April 27 China and South/Southeast Asia
Sutter, Chs. 9 and 10
Jing-dong Yuan, “The Dragon and the Elephant: Chinese-Indian Relations in the 21st
Century”, The Washington Quarterly (Coursepack)
April 30 NO CLASS – LONG WEEKEND
May 4 China, Russia and Europe
Sutter, Ch.11
Yu Bin, “China and Russia” in Power Shift;
Margot Schuller, “The EU’s Policy Toward China on Economic Issues” and Bates Gill, “European Union-China Cooperation on Security Issues”, in American and European Relations with China.
May 7 China, Africa, the Middle East and Latin America
Sutter, Ch. 12
Bates Gill, Chin-hao Huang & J. Stephen Morrison, “Assessing China’s Growing Influence in
Africa”, China Security;
Shen Dingli, “Iran’s Nuclear Ambitions Test China’s Wisdom”, The Washington Quarterly.
(Coursepack)
May 11 NIE Assessment Presentations
May 14 NIE Assessment Presentations
May 17-23 EXAM WEEK (NO FINAL EXAM)
Robert Sutter, Chinese Foreign Relations: Power and Policy Since the Cold War (2009)
Coursepack: The course reader is a compilation of sources on Chinese foreign policy and China in
international affairs written by Chinese and Western scholars.
Regular reading of: The New York Times at www.nytimes.com; The Washington Post at www.washingtonpost.com; the English-language version of the Chinese Communist Party’s official newspaper, The People’s Daily (Renmin Ribao) at english.peopledaily.com.cn; or the Chinese government’s English-language newspaper, China Daily at www.chinadaily.com.cn. You should be prepared to give a brief analysis of a news report on current affairs related to China’s foreign relations from either the Chinese or English news media at the beginning of each class period.
Note that readings are assigned on the day prior to when they will be discussed.
Shawn (Shih-hung) Shieh was previously an Associate Professor of Political Science at Marist College in Poughkeepsie, New York. He has been teaching, traveling, working, and doing research in China since 1984 when he took a leave of absence from his graduate studies in creative writing to teach English at Zhejiang University in Hangzhou. He received his Ph.D. in Political Science at Columbia University where he specialized in Chinese politics. He has taught a wide range of courses on political thought, international politics, Chinese/Asian politics, and U.S.-China Relations, and has led two student groups to China.
He has written and published a number of articles and book chapters on central-provincial relations, government-business relations, corruption and civil society in China in leading journals like The China Journal and Journal of Contemporary China. He is the coeditor of State and Society Responses to Social Welfare Needs in China: Serving the People (Routledge, 2009). This book examines the role of government and NGOs in responding to environmental, migrant labor, child welfare, and public health issues in contemporary China. He is currently working on a book on social activism and civil society in China.