Global China Academy’s Activities in April 2024

On April 17, Professor Xiangqun Chang visited GCA Fellows at the University Club at Oxford. The fellows are Professor David Parkin, Professor Robin Cohen, and Professor Maria Jaschok. In the morning, they conducted a broad range of discussions. During lunchtime, in addition to discussing work, Professor David Parkin suggested that we should also add a little living to our life. In the afternoon, Xiangqun and Maria discussed detailed work on the GCA Board of Trustees. It was a very productive day.

From left to right: Robin Cohen, David Parkin, Xiangqun Chang, and Maria Jaschok. The discussion meeting was similar to a brainstorming session. Based on incomplete audio records, the following topics were covered:

1. Transculturality:

• Definition and examples of transcultural practices.
• The concept of transculturality as a tool for understanding global dynamics beyond globalization.
• Comparison between Chinese and Western approaches to transculturality.

2. Reciprocity and Social Exchange:

• Different types of reciprocity: generalized, balanced, and negative exchange.
• The role of reciprocity in social relationships and its implications in different cultural contexts.

3. Academic Contributions and Challenges:

• The need for a Chinese school of sociology and its contributions to global social science.
• The challenges faced by Chinese academics in the global academic landscape.
• Strategies for integrating Chinese perspectives into global academic discussions.

4. Social Practices and Their Cultural Significance:

• The influence of Chinese cultural practices on social relationships and community building.
• Examples of social practices in Chinese villages and their implications for social structure.

5. Historical and Comparative Studies:

• Comparative studies on modernization in different countries.
  Historical encounters between Europe and China and their impact on cultural exchange.
• The role of Chinese academics in documenting and analyzing these historical interactions.

6. Globalization and Modernization:

• The evolution of globalization and its various forms.
  The concept of modernization in China and its comparison with Western perspectives.
• The impact of globalization on local cultures and practices.

7. Role of Chinese Women and Feminism:

• The development of Chinese feminism and its integration into global feminist discourse.
• Historical perspectives on Chinese women’s roles and contributions.

8. Networking and Collaboration:

• The importance of collaborating with similar institutions to sustain the mission of the Global China Academy.
• Potential partnerships with organizations like the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC).

9. Impact and Sustainability of the Global China Academy:

• Strategies for ensuring the sustainability of the academy.
  The role of publications and academic dialogues in promoting the academy’s mission.
• The importance of engaging younger generations in the academy’s work.

10. Fieldwork and Ethnographic Studies:

• Personal anecdotes and experiences from fieldwork in China.
• The significance of understanding local contexts and social dynamics through ethnographic research.

11. Political and Cultural Mapping:

• The role of maps in representing cultural and political relationships.
• The influence of mapping practices on understanding global connections and power dynamics.

12. Challenges of Publishing Uncensored Chinese Work:

• The difficulties in publishing authentic, uncensored academic work on China.
• The role of the Global China Academy in providing a platform for such publications.

13. Global Governance for AI:

• This is the theme of the 9th Global China Dialogue, which will take place at Tongji University in China. It is the first time the event will be held in China, and it will alternate between the UK and China in the future.
• The preparations are ongoing.

On April 27, the GCA team met for a one-day occasion. In the morning, some of us played golf at Hill Hill Golf Club. During the lunch meeting, it was agreed that Mr. Kai Liang would join us as Event Officer of GCA and Ms YU Li as Project Manager. In the afternoon, the team went to Brocket Hall for a walk and had dinner at the Real China Restaurant at the Galleria Outlet Shopping Centre in Hatfield. Thus, the sixth ‘walk and talk’ route was developed. 

Participants in the day’s activities in the top photo from left to right: Kai Liang (Event Officer), Katie Zheng (Administrative Manager), Alan Fang (Legal Adviser), Yu Li (Project Manager), David Liu (Logistics Manager), and Xiangqun Chang (President).