Center News
Ari Levine Joins the China Research Center As a New Associate
Dr. Levine, Assistant Professor of History at the University of Georgia, joins the Center as an Associate. In research, Dr. Levine specializes in the cultural, intellectual, and political history of the Song Dynasty.
He teaches a range of survey and seminar courses at UGA, and works closely with students on many aspects of Chinese history. He is currently completing a book on faction theory and political rhetoric during the late Northern Song Dynasty (1066-1126).
Center Elects New Board Members
At the fall annual meeting, the Center Associates elected Dr. Yawei Liu, Director of the Village Elections Program at The Carter Center and Professor at Georgia Perimeter College, as Associate Director, and Dr. Hanchao Lu, Professor of History at the Georgia Institute of Technology, as Board Member at Large. The other board members are Dr. Penelope Prime (Director), Dr. John Garver (Secretary), and James Schiffman (China Currents Editor).
Just Published: China And Iran: Ancient Partners in a Post-imperial World
The following review appears on Amazon.com:
China And Iran: Ancient Partners in a Post-imperial World, by John W. Garver, Professor of International Relations at the Sam Nunn School of International Affairs, Georgia Institute of Technology, published by the University of Washington Press (2006) was just released.
Iran's nuclear aspirations increasingly dominate its relations with the United States and Europe. China remains one of Iran's strongest allies on the U.N. Security Council, and also its most likely supplier of technology and assistance, built on decades of close economic and military relations. Iran is enjoying strong new influence in the Middle East and Asia following record oil profits and Shia victories in Iraqi parliamentary elections. Like Iran, China fought for decades to increase its self-reliance and geopolitical influence after painful experiences under European colonialism, which spurred nationalist revolutions.
With China and Iran: Ancient Partners in a Post-Imperial World, John Garver breaks new ground on the relationship between the People's Republic of China and the Islamic Republic of Iran. Grounding his survey in the twin concepts of civilization and power, Garver explores the relationship between these two ancient and proud peoples, each of which consider the other a peer and a partner in their mutual determination to build a post-Western-dominated Asia. Successive governments of both China and Iran have recognized substantial national capabilities in each other, capabilities that allow the countries to achieve their own national interests through cooperation. These interests have varied - from countering Soviet expansionism to resisting U.S. unilateralism - but the cooperative relationship between the two nations has remained constant.
In today's political climate, where China is recognized as a rising and increasingly influential global power and Iran as one of the most powerful nations in the Middle East, this book presents a crucial analysis of a topic of utmost importance to scholars and the general public today.
Professor Rong Cai Begins Research in China
Dr. Cai, Professor of Chinese Language and Literature at Emory University, will spend this academic year at Beijing Normal University on a Fulbright research grant. Her project focuses on the representation of history in contemporary Chinese popular culture. Via interviews, site visits and data collection, Dr. Cai will examine the production and consumption of three sets of historical narratives in China’s contemporary media: Films of the communist past sponsored by the state; Historical fiction by Chinese writers about the pre-communist eras; and TV dramas on China’s dynastic history.
Georgia Tech Professor to Lead the Internationally Known Chinese Economist Society
Dr. Haizheng Li, Professor of Economics at the Georgia Institute of Technology, has been elected President of the Chinese Economist Society (www.china-ces.org). In 2007, CES will organize two international conferences on China’s economy and economic transition issues.
The first will be held in Portorož, Slovenia. This conference, scheduled for May 11-14, 2007, will focus on economic transition. The theme is “Economic Transition at Midlife: Lessons for the Development of Markets and Institutions.” Keynote speakers will include Professor Zhiwu Chen (Yale), Professor Gérard Roland (U.C. Berkeley), Professor T. Paul Schultz (Yale), and Professor Jože P. Damijan, formerly Slovenian minister for growth and president of the Slovenian Economic Reforms Committee.
The second conference will be held in Changsha, China, July 27-30, 2007, in a top-level hotel-conference facility and is expected to have 500-700 participants. The conference theme is "Economic Transition, Regional Development, and Sustainable Growth." Keynote speakers include the Nobel Laureate in economics, Professor Kenneth Arrow, and Professor Daron Acemoglu from MIT (2005 John Bates Clark Award winner), and high-ranking government officials. Watch the CES website for details.
China Research Center Director Begins Position at Mercer University, Atlanta
Beginning this fall semester, Dr. Penelope Prime begins a new position teaching international economics and business at the Stetson School of Business at Mercer University in Atlanta. Dr. Prime previously taught at Kennesaw State University for 15 years. Dr. Prime will work with the Executive MBA program in their global semester, and will take the group to China next Spring. She will also teach MBA students and advanced undergraduates. This move does not affect the China Research Center as the Center is multi-institutional as well as cross-disciplinary in scope.
Dr. Prime’s new contact information is: Penelope B. Prime, Ph.D., Stetson School of Business & Economics, Mercer University, 3001 Mercer University Drive, Atlanta, GA 30341, Tel: 678-547-6235; email: prime_pb@mercer.edu.
Past Associate Director Moves to the University of North Carolina, Greensboro
Beginning this fall, Dr. Susan Walcott will begin a new position in the Department of Geography at the University of North Carolina - Greensboro. As the 16th tenure track faculty, with a PhD program of over 20 students and large MA contingent, she joins two other ex-GSU colleagues and 3 grads of UGA. The Department is very involved in internationalizing the curriculum, with particular enthusiasm for developing programs and ties to Asia.
Dr. Walcott’s new contact information is: Susan M. Walcott, Department of Geography, 443 Graham Building, PO Box 26170, University of North Carolina-Greensboro, Greensboro, NC 27402-6170, tel: 336-334-5382, email: smwalcot@uncg.edu.
Center Associate, Ken Jin, Wins Governor's Award
Kennesaw State University’s Center for International Training at Continuing Education was awarded the 2006 Governor’s Award in International Education at a ceremony Saturday, October 14th. The KSU center, directed by Ken Jin, provides customized professional training programs for senior business executives, government officials, professionals and students from China, Taiwan, Afghanistan, Africa, Romania, Hungary, Slovakia, Poland and the Ukraine. Each year, over 200 foreign professionals come to Kennesaw State University to participate in programs from a few days to one year. In addition to creating tourist revenue for the state, these programs create opportunities for Georgia companies to make contacts with foreign business executives.
One of the most active parts of the program has been with China. The China program is recognized as one of the best in the U.S. for training Chinese professionals. In 1999, the Center was designated as one of the five preferred institutions for Chinese training programs by China Ministry of Personnel, the only one the southeastern United States.
The CRC Launches Enhanced Publication, China Currents
This issue of the China Research Center publication launches our new publication name and look. China Currents will publish more articles based on scholarly research, but in an easy to read, condensed format. China Currents will continue to announce upcoming events and report on the content of events that have occurred, as well as keep you informed of the Center’s activities. We value your input—please send your comments to chinaresearchcenter@gmail.org.
