The 4th International Forum for Contemporary China Studies

 China: Prospects and Challenges to 2020

The 4th International Forum for Contemporary China Studies (IFCCS4)

Date: and 31 August -2 September 2011
Venue: Sir Clive Granger Building, University of Nottingham, UK
Organizer: School of Contemporary Chinese Studies (with its China Policy Institute and Nottingham Confucius Institute), The University of Nottingham 
Co-organisers: 
Asia Research Centre, London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE)
School of Sociology and Anthropology (SSA), Sun Yat-sen University, China
Sponsors:  The Globalisation and Economic Policy Centre (GEP)
                  Hanban / Confucius Institute Headquarters
                  Confucius Institute for Business London (CIBL)
                  LSE China in Comparative Perspective Network (CCPN)   

Introduction

China’s 12th Five Year Plan (2011-2015) represents a possible turning point in its economic policies from a growth-driven to a more balanced development strategy, paying serious attention to the country’s structural changes, equality and the population’s quality of life. China is aiming to become an all-round Xiaokang Society by 2020, meaning that everyone will be able to enjoy the comfortable lifestyle of a middle-income economy. By that time, China may overtake the US to be the world’s largest economy as well.

Serious questions remain regarding China in the context of the world economy. On the one hand, the world community is highly uncertain, even anxious, about how China will use its increasing influence as a world superpower. On the other hand, China itself is often frustrated by the Western mistrust of its intention to ‘develop peacefully‘. Internal developments in China’s trade, finance and monetary policies, food security, energy consumption, environmental protection and population movement can have a tremendous impact on the global economy, while changes and disruptions in the rest of the world could seriously destabilise China’s domestic dynamics or even threaten its sustainable growth.

Hence, today we have to analyse China’s development in a global context, and we have to take the China factor into account when considering global issues. China and the world need to strive towards a mutual understanding if we are to see a sustainable peace and development globally, but to do so, great challenges exist. How should the world understand the domestic and international challenges China now faces? How can the world reach an understanding of China’s values and core interests? How should China shoulder more global responsibilities as its power and capacity increase? How can China solve its domestic problems without having a negative impact on other countries? How can China take on more international obligations as it struggles to solve its own domestic problems? How should the world engage a China that is contributing to the global imbalances of trade and finance?

Guest speakers

Mr Xiaoming Liu, H.E. Chinese Ambassador to the UK
Professor Fang Cai, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences 
Professor Tiejun Wen, Renmin University 
Professor Yang Yao, Peking University 
Professor Danny Quah, London School of Economics
Professor Peter Nolan, University of Cambridge
Professor Peter Van der Veer, Max Planck Institute 
Professor Barry Naughton, University of California
Professor Elizabeth Perry, Harvard University

Objectives

• To exchange views on the challenges that China faces and its relations with the international community;
• To facilitate critical a review of the experiences and lessons learned regarding China’s reform and development;
• To develop interdisciplinary communication, interaction and cooperation in the areas of China’s rise and international relations, low-carbon economy, internal and international migration, civil society and governance;
• To explore the methodological issues behind the development of Contemporary China Studies;
• To build collaborative networks in Contemporary China Studies.

Panels

• China in comparative perspective (CCPN, LSE)
• Network and relationship studies on China (LSE and University of Sheffield)
• China-EU relations (EU FP7 project panel)
• Soft power and the development of Confucius Institutes around the world
• The development of civil society organisations in China
• Emerging research trends in Contemporary Chinese Studies
• PhD colloquium

Note: The panel of China in comparative perspective is co-organised by Professor Stephan Feuchtwang and Dr Kent Deng, LSE; the panel of Network and relationship studies on China is co-organised by Dr Xiangqun Chang (LSE) and Professor Xiaowei Zang (University of Sheffield)     

Deadlines

Submission of abstracts 30 April 2011
Notification of acceptance 31 May 2011
Early registration (online or by email) 30 June 2011
Submission of full papers 31 July 2011
Draft programme issued 12 August 2011

Contacts

For abstract/paper submission: ifccs4@nottingham.ac.uk 
For general enquiries: Dr Bin Wu, bin.wu@nottingham.ac.uk 
For local information: Ms Jenny Hall, ifccs4@nottingham.ac.uk 
Web address: www.nottingham.ac.uk/chinese 

http://www.lse.ac.uk/collections/CCPN/ICRB/IFCCS4/IFCCS4_en.htm