The American Association for Chinese Studies: When China Rules the World

The panel discussion, “When China Rules the World,” was hosted by the American Association for Chinese Studies and the Rollins College China Center on Saturday, October 17.  This symposium was established to create an open forum for new research developments, policy questions, and dissemination of knowledge on Chinese-related culture.  What it accomplished was enlightening attendees on China’s economic progression and rise to power.  Throughout the discussion, panelists compared, contrasted, and analyzed the U.S. and China, providing in-depth insight to such controversial and misunderstood topics as China’s socialist economy and the dissipation of American economic power. 

The panel members were representatives from diverse yet converging academic backgrounds.  They included, David Ahlstrom, Professor of Business Management at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, William Jankowiak, Professor of Anthropology at the University of Nevada, Huang Jing, Professor of Political Science at the National University of Singapore, Thomas Lairson, Professor of International Business and Political Science at Rollins College, Jay Taylor, Associate in Research at the Fairbanks Center of Chinese Studies at Harvard University, and Robert Sutter, Professor of Asian Studies at Georgetown University.

Each of the panelists presented their research on China’s economy and its link to the free, capitalistic market.  The general conclusion was the success of both China and the United States are inextricably interwoven.  In fact, it was proposed that the entire Asian continent cannot succeed without the involvement of American enterprise and assistance. 

This 51st Annual Conference for the American Association for Chinese Studies was moderated by Professor of International Business Ilan Alon, Cornell Professor of International Business and Director of the Rollins College China Center. Alon has recently authored the book, China Rules, Globalization and Political Transformation.  The event will be rebroadcast on Orange TV.

-Justin Braun (Class of 2010)