Joseph Fewsmith, "Blurring the Lines: The Logic and Limits of Political Reform in China"

The Fairbank Center at Harvard University presents Joseph Fewsmith as part of their New England China Seminar.

The New England China Seminar is a two-part event. Please also see:
5:15 pm  – Lecture by James Kai-sing Kung (USCI Event Page)
6:30 pm – Dinner Option, see below

Joseph Fewsmith, Professor of International Relations and Political Science,Boston University

Professor Fewsmith will explore both the reasons that political reforms have been undertaken since this mid-1990s and why they have not, by and large, been sustained over time. He will describe different types of reform, encompassing both "inner-party democracy" and efforts to incorporate a growing "civil society" into the political system. He will consider the implications of not pursuing political reforms with greater persistence.

Joseph Fewsmith is professor of international relations and political science as well as director of the Boston University Center for the Study of Asia. He is the author or editor of six books, including China Today, China Tomorrow (2010) and China since Tiananmen (2nd edition, 2008). He is very active in the China field, traveling to China frequently and presenting papers at professional conferences such as the Association for Asian Studies and the American Political Science Association.  He is one of the seven regular contributors to China Leadership Monitor, a quarterly web publication analyzing current developments in China, and publishes regularly in academic journals and books. He is also an associate of the Pardee Center for the Study of the Longer Range Future at Boston University.

Dinner Option

We welcome participants who wish to attend both sessions of the New England China Seminar to join colleagues for a buffet dinner at 6:30-7:30 pm, in Room S030. The dinner cost is $15 per person ($10 for students). Due to space limitations, we will accept 30 reservations on a first come first serve basis. Advance reservation and payment is required. Please register before noon on Thursday, November 10, 2011, by clicking here.

Location: CGIS South, Belfer Case Study Room (S020), 1730 Cambridge Street, Harvard University