Contemporary China Studies and Sinology: A Chinese Perspective

China Studies Research Centre Seminar Series, La Trobe University

The Relationship of Contemporary China Studies and Sinology: A Chinese Perspective
Dr Sha LIU, Wuhan University

2:30pm-4:00pm Thursday 3 August 2017
Room 318, Education 2 (ED2), La Trobe University

In the West, contemporary China Studies and traditional Sinology originated from the need to understand or to change practical realities in China. It can be said that practical or policy needs led to the emergence of these two areas of research. In many respects, the ups and downs of contemporary China Studies have been determined by the demands of government policies, while the shrinking size and declining prominence of Sinology can be attributed to its growing distance from its insignificant relationship to policy issues. It is obvious that policy needs have provided the major impetus for the development of both Sinology in the past and contemporary China Studies today. Viewed from the history of both Sinology and contemporary China Studies in various countries, this presentation will argue that we can expect policy demand will continue to determine the future development of all studies relating to China.

Dr Sha Liu (Ph.D. in Political Science, UCLA) is an Associate Professor at the school of Politics and Public Management at Wuhan University, China. One of Dr Sha Liu’s major research interests is in the development of contemporary China Studies in the West. From 2010 to present, he has been writing annual review essays for the journal of China Academy of Social Sciences, and policy analysis for Chinese central government. His view on the state of contemporary China Studies in the West has been generally accepted in Chinese academia since 2010.

More information and registration: http://www.latrobe.edu.au/events/all/the-relationship-of-contemporary-china-studies-and-sinology-a-chinese-perspective