معرفی
Dr. Chenchen Zhang is an Associate Professor in International Relations at Durham University, where they also serve as the director of the Centre for Contemporary Chinese Studies. They are affiliated with the School of Government and International Affairs and maintain active scholarly engagement through editorial roles at Geopolitics journal and the Made in China Journal.
Dr. Zhang's educational background includes studies in China, Japan, Italy, and Belgium. They have previously held academic positions at Queen's University Belfast, the Université libre de Bruxelles, and the University of Copenhagen, establishing an international academic trajectory before joining Durham University.
Dr. Zhang's research spans critical theory, political geography, and international relations, with evolving focus from citizenship and migration in European and Chinese contexts to contemporary concerns with digital narratives, postcolonial nationalism, and the global right. Their work particularly examines Chinese cyberspace as a critical site for understanding the intersection of digital technologies, political discourse, and identity formation. Through their scholarship, Dr. Zhang illuminates how digital platforms have become crucial arenas for the articulation of political identities, nationalist sentiments, and transnational connections.
Analysis of Dr. Zhang's recent publications reveals a consistent engagement with the digital dimensions of political discourse, particularly focusing on Chinese contexts. Their work explores how digital spaces mediate understandings of citizenship, nationalism, and global politics, with increasing attention to reactionary politics and the global right. Methodologically, their research combines critical discourse analysis with political theory to unpack the complex interplay between technology, identity, and power in contemporary geopolitics.
- Co-editor of Geopolitics journal
- Editorial team member of Made in China Journal
- Producer and co-host of the Shicha podcast (时差 In-betweenness)
- Translator of Rebecca Solnit's "Men Explain Things to Me" (English to Chinese)
- Fellow at the Transnational Institute
Dr. Zhang serves as the director of the Centre for Contemporary Chinese Studies at Durham University, providing mentorship to doctoral researcher Mingze Hou. They are actively involved in academic community building through editorial work and podcast production that amplifies early-career researchers' voices. Their scholarly contributions span prestigious journals including Review of International Studies, European Journal of International Relations, Citizenship Studies, Geopolitics, and Geoforum.
Dr. Zhang leads the Centre for Contemporary Chinese Studies, a hub for interdisciplinary research on China that bridges academic scholarship with public engagement. Through the Shicha podcast, they create space for dialogue among early-career researchers working on China-related topics, fostering a transnational intellectual community. Their academic work consistently connects theoretical insights with empirical investigations of contemporary Chinese political dynamics, particularly in digital spaces.
