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Avery Goldstein is the David M. Knott Professor Emeritus of Global Politics and International Relations at the University of Pennsylvania’s Political Science Department. He serves as the Inaugural Director of the Center for the Study of Contemporary China and Associate Director of the Christopher H. Browne Center for International Politics. His research focuses on international relations theory, strategic/security studies, and Chinese politics, with a particular emphasis on China’s grand strategy, US-China relations, and security dynamics in East Asia. Goldstein’s academic career includes seminal works such as Rising to the Challenge: China’s Grand Strategy and International Security (2005) and Deterrence and Security in the 21st Century (2000). He has authored over 30 journal articles in top-tier publications like International Security and International Organization , exploring themes ranging from nuclear deterrence to China’s geopolitical ambitions. Additionally, he is a Senior Fellow at the Foreign Policy Research Institute (FPRI), amplifying his influence in policy-relevant scholarship. His research consistently bridges theoretical frameworks with empirical analysis, addressing critical issues such as power transitions, crisis instability, and the implications of China’s rise for global order. Goldstein’s advisory roles and institutional leadership reflect his dual commitment to academic rigor and real-world policy engagement.

• International Relations
• Security Studies
• Chinese Politics
• +3 more

Joseph Felter is a Research Fellow at the Hoover Institution (Stanford University) and the William J. Perry Fellow at the Center for International Security and Cooperation. His career bridges academia, military service, and policy advising, with expertise in counterinsurgency, national security, and US-China relations. He coauthored the influential book Small Wars, Big Data: The Information Revolution and Modern Conflict (2018) and developed the Hacking for Defense curriculum to connect military needs with Silicon Valley innovation. Military Background: Former US Army Special Forces officer with combat deployments in Panama, Iraq, and Afghanistan. Served as commander of the COMISAF Counterinsurgency Advisory and Assistance Team. Academic Roles: Assistant Professor at West Point’s Department of Social Sciences, Adjunct Associate Professor at Columbia University’s School for International and Public Affairs, and current codirector of Stanford’s Empirical Studies of Conflict Project. Research Focus: Politically motivated violence, economic development in conflict zones, and defense innovation. His work appears in top journals like American Economic Review and Journal of Conflict Resolution . Policy Engagement: Key advisor on US defense strategy (2017–2019) and founder of BMNT, a Silicon Valley defense technology incubator. Currently serves on Spirit of America’s board. Scientific Awards: Recognized as a William J. Perry Fellow and US Army War College Fellow. His empirical conflict research informs both academic and policy debates.

• Counterinsurgency
• Politically Motivated Violence
• National Security Strategy
• +4 more

Jyh-An Lee is a Professor and founding Executive Director of the Centre for Legal Innovation and Digital Society (CLINDS) at The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) Faculty of Law. He leads the New Ventures Legal Team (NVLT) and holds advisory roles at institutions like the European Center for E-Commerce & Internet Law and National University of Singapore. Education : JSD (Stanford), LLM (Harvard), MBA & LLB (National Taiwan University) Admissions : Practicing lawyer in Taiwan His research interests focus on Intellectual Property , AI and the Law , Law & Digital Technology , and Asian Law . He has contributed to landmark studies on NFTs, metaverse legal frameworks, cybersecurity, and IP litigation in Asia. The scientific awards he has received include: CUHK PhD IMPAC Award (2024-25) CUHK Vice-Chancellor’s Exemplary Teaching Award (2023, 2019) CUHK Outstanding Research Impact Award (2022-23) Numerous other university and faculty-level honors His work has been cited by major international courts and agencies. He is also a TRAIL Academic Fellow and active in policy advisory roles for Creative Commons and IP offices in Taiwan and Hong Kong.

• Intellectual Property
• Artificial Intelligence and the Law
• Law & Digital Technology
• +1 more

Johanna S. Ransmeier is an Associate Professor at the University of Chicago, affiliated with the Department of History, the College of Arts and Sciences, and the Department of East Asian Languages and Civilizations. She co-chairs the faculty board of the Pozen Family Center for Human Rights. PhD, Yale University (2008) AB, Amherst College (1997) Her research focuses on the intersection of law and family life in modern China, particularly through crime history. She has pioneered studies on human trafficking in Late Qing and Republican China, examining how traditional family structures enabled illegal transactions involving slaves, servants, and concubines. Her notable work, Sold People: Traffickers and Family Life in North China (2017), analyzes judicial archives to reveal systemic legal and social dynamics. Current research explores 'legal literacy' in early 20th-century China and its implications for modern legal expectations. Scientific Awards: Quantrell Award (2022) Fellow, National Committee on US-China Relations Public Intellectuals Program (Cohort V) Prior to joining the University of Chicago, she taught at McGill University and worked in human rights advocacy, serving as an interpreter for Chinese activists. She actively collaborates with institutions like the Pozen Family Center for Human Rights.

• Modern China
• Chinese legal history
• Crime history
• +2 more

Dr Borge Bakken is a Researcher affiliated with the ANU College of Arts and Social Sciences at The Australian National University. His work focuses on Chinese governance, criminology, and socio-legal systems with particular emphasis on corruption dynamics, criminal justice reforms, and socio-political structures in modern China. He has conducted extensive research on topics including wrongful convictions, rural criminal networks, and institutional corruption mechanisms. Research Interests: Dr Bakken's expertise spans Chinese legal frameworks, socio-political governance, and criminological studies. His work critically examines how social norms intersect with punitive measures in contemporary China, particularly in areas like anti-corruption policies and judicial transparency. Recent studies include analyses of 'criminal villages' and evolving corruption forms within state-owned enterprises. Publications: His 2021 article on corruption in China explores land management and state asset misappropriation. Earlier works address wrongful convictions and the socio-legal challenges in rural crime networks. His research demonstrates a focus on institutional accountability and systemic governance issues. Labs/Teams: Not explicitly mentioned, but his collaborative work with co-author Wang, J. (2021) suggests interdisciplinary engagements within ANU's China studies networks.

• Chinese Governance
• Criminology
• Political Science
• +3 more

Prof. Dr. Barbara Mittler is Professor of Sinology at Heidelberg University and founding co-director of the Heidelberg Centre for Transcultural Studies (CATS) and the Cluster of Excellence 'Asia and Europe in a Global Context.' Her research explores Chinese cultural policy, print media, musicology, visual culture, and transcultural studies. Mittler's scholarly contributions include groundbreaking work on Cultural Revolution culture, early Chinese print media (particularly women's magazines), and the transcultural flows of cultural production. Her current projects examine Mao as a global icon and comparative studies of Asian 'fathers of the nation.' Her publication record demonstrates consistent focus on cultural transmission mechanisms, with recent research developing transcultural frameworks for understanding cultural exchange and historical analysis. Publications reflect an interdisciplinary approach combining visual analysis, media studies, and historical methodology. Mittler has received numerous honors including the Fairbank Prize, Heinz-Maier-Leibnitz Prize, and memberships in the Leopoldina and Heidelberg Academy of Sciences. She leads major initiatives like the China-Schul-Akademie developing educational materials about China for German schools.

• Chinese Cultural Studies
• Transcultural Studies
• Cultural Memory
• +3 more

Ruth Mostern is Associate Professor of History at the University of Pittsburgh and Director of the Institute for Spatial History Innovation (ISHI). She is Vice-President and President-Elect (2025-2026) of the World History Association and leads the award-winning World Historical Gazetteer project. Education Ph.D. in History, University of California, Berkeley, 2003 Research Interests Mostern is an interdisciplinary historian specializing in world, Chinese, environmental, and spatial history. She investigates long-term human–environment interactions at continental and millennial scales, focusing on how societies organize space, resources, and risk. Her work integrates GIS, digital gazetteers, and environmental science to reconstruct historical geographies of empire, water management, and ecological change. Current projects include: Place: A Global History – a study of itineraries, gazetteers, and databases as technologies of spatial knowledge. The Medieval Climate Anomaly and the Global Medieval Era – cultural adaptations to climate change c. 950-1250 CE. Research Trends Her recent publications span digital environmental humanities, historical GIS, Song-dynasty political economy, and pre-industrial Asian political ecology. A dominant theme is the coupling of state power with environmental transformation, exemplified by her 2021 book The Yellow River: A Natural and Unnatural History (Yale), winner of the 2023 Joseph Levenson Prize. Awards & Honors Joseph Levenson Prize, Association for Asian Studies, 2023 NEH Digital Humanities Advancement Grant, 2023-2025 Digital Humanities Awards 2021 – Best DH Tool (World Historical Gazetteer) Fudan University Fellowship for Studies of Chinese Civilization, 2019 NEH Humanities Connections Implementation Grant, 2018-2020 Chiang Ching-kuo Foundation Summer Institute Grant, 2015-2016 NSF Collaborative Research Grant, 2013-2015 ACLS Digital Innovation Fellowship, 2011-2012 Advising & Grants Mostern welcomes graduate students interested in environmental, global, Asian, or digital history. She has directed multiple externally funded projects, including the NSF-funded Center for Historical Information and Analysis and NEH-supported initiatives on water in Central Asia and global historical gazetteers. Labs & Teams She directs the Institute for Spatial History Innovation (ISHI) at the University of Pittsburgh, a hub for interdisciplinary research integrating spatial technologies with historical inquiry. ISHI hosts the World Historical Gazetteer , providing open tools and datasets that link knowledge about historical places across world regions.

• World History
• Chinese History
• Spatial History
• +5 more

Dr. Heather Inwood serves as University Associate Professor in Modern Chinese Literature and Culture within the Faculty of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies at the University of Cambridge. She is also a Fellow and Director of Studies at Trinity Hall, maintaining dual institutional affiliations that support her teaching and research activities across undergraduate and postgraduate programs. Her educational background includes a BA in Chinese Studies from the University of Cambridge (Trinity Hall), followed by advanced studies at Tsinghua University and Peking University, culminating in a PhD in modern Chinese literature from SOAS, University of London in 2008. Prior academic appointments include Assistant Professor at The Ohio State University (2008-2013) and Lecturer in Chinese Cultural Studies at the University of Manchester before returning to Cambridge in 2016. Professor Inwood's research program investigates the dynamic interactions between digital media and literary production in contemporary China, with particular focus on poetry communities, genre fiction, and transmedia storytelling. Her work bridges traditional literary analysis with digital humanities approaches, examining how online platforms transform authorship, reception, and cultural value. She has pioneered scholarship on internet poetry scenes, demonstrating their vitality despite public perceptions of poetry's decline in modern China. Her publication trajectory reveals a clear evolution from early work on poetry communities ( Verse Going Viral: China's New Media Scenes , 2014) toward broader investigations of digital narrative forms, game studies, and Sinophone cyberspace. Recent publications increasingly engage with science fiction, transmedia storytelling, and the algorithmic structures shaping literary production, reflecting both the changing digital landscape and her expanding methodological toolkit. Professor Inwood actively supervises five PhD students working on diverse projects spanning Misty poetry, queer narratives, gender studies, and poetic animality, demonstrating her commitment to nurturing next-generation scholarship in Chinese literary studies. Her research has been supported by British Academy Small Grants and similar funding mechanisms that enable sustained fieldwork and publication. Her teaching responsibilities include undergraduate courses on East Asian media and popular culture, Modern Chinese texts, and Modern Chinese literature, connecting classroom instruction directly to her research expertise. She also maintains public engagement through Chinese-language columns for BBC China and other media outlets, bridging academic and public discourse on contemporary Chinese culture.

• Contemporary Chinese literature
• Poetry studies
• Digital humanities
• +5 more

Xi Lian serves as the David C. Steinmetz Distinguished Professor of World Christianity at Duke Divinity School and is currently a Yang Visiting Scholar at Harvard Divinity School. His scholarly work examines the complex relationship between Christianity and Chinese society across historical periods. His educational background includes: BA and MA from Fujian Normal University PhD from the State University of New York at Albany Professor Lian's research focuses on: The development of indigenous Chinese Christian movements Religious transformation in post-Mao China Christian missionary history in China Religion's role in cultural and political change He has authored several groundbreaking books including The Conversion of Missionaries: Liberalism in American Protestant Missions in China, 1907-1932 (1997), Redeemed by Fire: The Rise of Popular Christianity in Modern China (2010), and Blood Letters: The Untold Story of Lin Zhao, a Martyr in Mao's China (2018). His current research investigates how homegrown Christianity has emerged as a transformative force in contemporary Chinese public life, offering new moral frameworks in the post-Mao era. Professor Lian's scholarship bridges historical, theological, and sociological perspectives to document how Christian beliefs have been adapted within Chinese cultural contexts, challenging Western-centric narratives about global Christianity.

• World Christianity
• Chinese Christianity
• Religious History
• +3 more

Ksana Blank is a Senior Lecturer at Princeton University’s Department of Slavic Languages and Literatures. She coordinates the Russian Language Program and directs the Princeton-in-Petersburg Program, fostering academic exchange and interdisciplinary research. With a PhD in Russian Literature (Columbia University, 1997) and a BA in French Philology (St. Petersburg State University, 1979), her academic career spans over two decades at Princeton, preceded by teaching roles at Hunter College and Middlebury College Russian Summer School. Education: PhD, Russian Literature, Columbia University (1997) BA, French Philology, St. Petersburg State University (1979) Her research centers on Russian literature, emphasizing stylistic analysis and interdisciplinary connections with music, visual arts, folklore, and religious philosophy. Notable works include studies on Dostoevsky’s dialectics, Gogol’s The Nose , and the interplay between Russian modernism and Western art movements. She has authored multiple books and articles, many translated into Russian, and has published in academic journals across Russia, Europe, and China. Recent publications explore Dostoevsky’s paradoxes, Gogol’s linguistic innovation, and the intersection of Russian literature with music (Shostakovich), art (Malevich), and philosophy. Her 2023 book Парадоксы классики expands traditional interpretations of classic works through interdisciplinary lenses, while her 2021 The Nose guide deciphers Gogol’s wordplay and its narrative function. Earlier works address Tolstoy’s spiritual crisis and Bakhtinian dialogism in Russian literary theory. While no scientific awards are listed, her contributions to pedagogy include advanced Russian language courses and graduate-level Tolstoy studies. She currently works on Leo Tolstoy’s The Prisoner of the Caucasus and teaches courses on Russian literature, spirituality, and translation.

• Russian Literature
• Stylistics
• Interdisciplinary Studies
• +3 more

Prof. Dr. Daniel Leese is a full professor of History and Politics of Modern China at the University of Freiburg's Institute of Sinology. He specializes in 20th-century Chinese history, focusing on the Communist Party's legacy and transitional justice. Current research includes a dual biography of Chiang Kai-shek and Mao Zedong, and analysis of PRC information systems. Education: PhD in International History (2006, International University Bremen). Academic roles include ERC grant leadership (2014-2019) and FRIAS Senior Fellowship (2018-2019). Awards include Carl Friedrich von Siemens Fellowship (2022/2023). Key publications: Maos langer Schatten (2021) Justice After Mao (2023) Chinesisches Denken der Gegenwart (2023) Research emphasizes Mao's political impact, historical justice mechanisms, and institutional memory. Maintains a digital archive of Mao-era documents (maoistlegacy.de).

• History of the Chinese Communist Party
• Transitional Justice
• Modern Chinese Politics
• +3 more

Todd H. Hall is a Professor of International Relations at the University of Oxford's Department of Politics and International Relations (DPIR) and a Tutorial Fellow in Politics at St Anne's College. He directs the University of Oxford China Centre and holds affiliations with the International Relations Network and the Centre for International Studies (CIS). His research focuses on international relations theory, emotional dimensions of diplomacy, and Chinese foreign policy, with particular emphasis on Sino-Japanese relations and East Asian security dynamics. Education: PhD in Political Science from the University of Chicago (2008). Postdoctoral fellowships at Princeton and Harvard Universities, and visiting scholar appointments at Free University of Berlin, Tsinghua University, and University of Tokyo. Research interests include the role of emotions in international politics, China's foreign policy, and the historical parallels between early 20th-century European tensions and contemporary East Asian geopolitics. His award-winning book *Emotional Diplomacy* (2015) explores how states strategically deploy emotion in international relations. Recent publications analyze Huawei's 5G policy dilemmas, China's Belt and Road Initiative, and dispute escalation mechanisms. He advises on East Asian security, including repeated tensions in the South China Sea and Sino-Japanese territorial disputes. Awards include the ISSA 2016 Diplomatic Studies Book Award. Active in policy commentary, his op-eds address Taiwan Strait tensions, China's diplomatic rhetoric, and historical memory conflicts. Labs/Teams: Leads the Oxford China Centre's research initiatives on modern Chinese diplomacy and emotional geopolitics. Collaborates with institutions like the National University of Singapore and Missouri S&T on East Asian security studies.

• International Relations Theory
• Emotion and Foreign Policy
• Chinese Foreign Policy
• +3 more

Dr Zeno Leoni is a Lecturer in the Defence Studies Department at King’s College London, based at the Joint Services and Staff College (JSCSC) of the Defence Academy of the UK. He is also an affiliate of the Lau China Institute, co-convening their policy brief series. His research focuses on US and Chinese grand strategies, US-China relations, AUKUS, and world order, with recent publications including a forthcoming book on the new Cold War. He leads a research group studying middle-power diplomacy in the Indo-Pacific and has advised Italian and UK government bodies on geopolitical trends. Teaching: Delivers courses on China for the Higher Command and Staff Course (HCSC) at the JSCSC, and lectures on International Security Studies, Airpower, and International Political Economy. Additionally teaches at Italy’s IASD defence institute. Key Research Areas: Specializes in US-China competition, AUKUS dynamics, and the evolving Indo-Pacific order. His work bridges academia and policy, with contributions to UK Parliament hearings on AUKUS and US defense policies. Leads research on middle powers’ strategies amid great power competition. Professional Activities: Executive Director of ITSS Verona, a non-profit focused on international security. Active in King’s research groups including Contemporary Marxism, Environmental Security, and Economic Conflict & Competition. Frequently contributes to media analyses for outlets like the Financial Times and BBC. Awards: While no specific prizes are listed, his extensive policy engagement and academic output reflect recognition in strategic studies circles. Collaborations include work with the EU, UAE, and other middle powers on geopolitical strategy.

• US-China relations
• Grand Strategy
• AUKUS
• +7 more

Yuhua Wang serves as the Ford Foundation Professor of Modern China Studies within Harvard University's Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Department of Government. His scholarly work establishes him as a leading authority on Chinese political development, state capacity, and historical institutional analysis across imperial and contemporary contexts. His academic foundation includes: B.A. from Peking University Ph.D. from the University of Michigan Professor Wang's research program integrates comparative politics with Chinese studies through core interests in bureaucracy , institutions , judiciary and public law , political economy & development , political geography , and state-society relations . He employs a methodological triad of historical , qualitative , and quantitative approaches to analyze China's political evolution. His work uniquely bridges macro-historical patterns with contemporary governance challenges, particularly examining how historical legacies shape modern state capacity and institutional resilience in authoritarian contexts. Analysis of his publication trajectory reveals consistent focus on state development mechanisms, with increasing sophistication in comparative historical methodology. Recent work demonstrates expanded geographic scope beyond China while maintaining analytical depth in imperial political economy. His research shows growing integration of cross-national datasets with deep historical case studies, reflecting broader trends in political science toward mixed-method designs for complex institutional analysis. His distinguished recognition includes: 2023 Lubbert Best Book Award in Comparative Politics from the American Political Science Association for The Rise and Fall of Imperial China Harvard College Professor appointment (2025) Professor Wang maintains active research leadership through extensive publication in premier journals including American Political Science Review and Comparative Political Studies , with significant contributions to theoretical frameworks like State-in-Society 2.0. His work generates substantial policy-relevant insights on corruption, judicial review, and urban governance in China. As a core faculty member in Harvard's Government Department, he contributes to the university's intellectual ecosystem through cross-disciplinary collaboration and participation in research initiatives focused on Asian political development, though specific lab affiliations are not documented in available sources.

• Comparative Politics
• China Studies
• Asian Politics
• +8 more

Wang Ning is a distinguished Professor of English and Comparative Literature with affiliations at Tsinghua University (part-time) and Shanghai Jiao Tong University. His career spans prestigious roles including Zhiyuan Chair Professor (2009–present) and Changjiang Distinguished Professor (2013–present). Born in 1955, he holds academic qualifications from institutions in China, Europe, and North America. Research interests focus on cosmopolitanism, translation studies, Northrop Frye's mythopoeia, cultural studies, and Chinese-Western comparative literature. He has secured over ten grants since 1991 aimed at introducing European theory to China and has conducted research across Europe, North America, and Australia as a visiting professor/research fellow. Key achievements include the Changjiang Scholars Award (2013), membership in Académé de la Latinité (2010), and fellowships at Cambridge and Gottingen Universities. He co-founded Chinese editions of New Literary History and Critical Inquiry , advancing transnational literary discourse. Wang has delivered keynote lectures globally and led initiatives to bridge Chinese and Western literary traditions. His work emphasizes global literary dynamics, translation’s role in cultural exchange, and reinterpreting modern Chinese literature within global contexts.

• Cosmopolitanism and World Literature
• Translation Studies
• Northrop Frye and Mythology
• +5 more