David S G Goodman

David S G Goodman is a Professor of Chinese Politics and Director of the China Studies Centre at the University of Sydney. He has held academic roles in Australia, China, and the UK since 1971, including Vice President for Academic Affairs at Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University. His research focuses on social and political change in China, class inequality, and international education. He has authored/co-authored over 20 books and edited 30 volumes, with recent works exploring local governance, common prosperity policies, and entrepreneurial resilience in transitioning markets. Prof Goodman holds editorial roles at journals like Chinese Journal of Sociology and China Information. His awards include the Elsevier Highly Cited Researcher in Sociology (2021) and the PRC Friendship Award (2014). Current projects include studies on local governance innovations and the impact of 'common prosperity' policies in China.

Education:

• PhD in Politics and Modern History, University of Manchester
• Studies in Economics at Peking University
• Chinese Language and Politics at the London School of Oriental and African Studies

Research Interests:

Prof Goodman’s work examines provincial development, class dynamics, and the Communist Party’s evolving role. Key themes include:

• Local governance structures and reforms
• Social inequality and mobility
• Historical analysis of the Communist Party
• Entrepreneurship in transitional economies

Grants & Collaborations:

Recent grants include studies on:

• Economic policies’ impact on Chinese-Australian trade (2022)
• Governance dynamics in urban China (2017)
• Enterprise development in western China (2013)

Labs/Teams: Leads interdisciplinary teams at the China Studies Centre and collaborates with global researchers on projects like the Handbook on Local Governance in China.