From June 16 to 25, Professor Robert Pape of the University of Chicago undertook a productive academic and outreach visit to China, coordinated by the University of Chicago Center in Beijing. The Center provided comprehensive support for a dynamic itinerary that featured a joint Jinjiu Forum with Peking University’s School of International Relations, public lectures at Huazhong University of Science and Technology in Wuhan and Westlake University in Hangzhou, and visits to leading electric vehicle companies in Beijing and Shenzhen. Professor Pape also met with officials at the Wuhan High-Tech Zone and Hangzhou Science City. The visit fostered meaningful connections between UChicago and prominent Chinese institutions and industries, showcasing the Center’s efforts to strengthen cross-sector engagement.
On June 17th, Professor Pape delivered a lecture titled “How Trump’s New Deal Could End the Liberal Global Order of International Relations”, where he drew insights from his research on coercive diplomacy, economic sanctions, and global power shifts. His analysis provided a framework for understanding the dynamics of international relationship under Trump’s second administration.
During the lecture, Professor Pape engaged with Professor Jia Qingguo, Professor of the School of International Studies and Director of the Institute for Global Cooperation and Understanding at Peking University. Their dialogue explored the challenges facing the world order and offered valuable insights their respective fields of expertise. Their meeting was moderated by Dr. Gao Dan, Associate Research Fellow of the Institute for Global Cooperation and Understanding at Peking University
The next day, Professor Pape embarked on field trips to gain firsthand exposure to China’s technological and industrial advancements. He toured Xiaomi’s cutting-edge smart manufacturing hub in Yizhuang and visited Beijing Benz Automotive’s factory in Shunyi.
On June 19th, Professor Pape visited the the Institute State Governance (ISG) at Huazhong University of Science and Technology and held a discussion with over 20 teachers, students and scholars. Professor Kang OUYANG, the director of the Institute of ISG, and Vice President Xiaofeng Zhao of the School of International Education attended the meeting. Professor Pape first delivered a keynote speech titled "How Trump's New Policies Ends the Liberal Global Order", analyzing the causes, characteristics and impact on the international order of Trump's policies from the perspectives of the transformation of American society, the differentiation of social classes and the competition between the two parties. He also stated that Trump's new policies will lead to a new “soft balancing” in the global order. Subsequently, Professor Pape exchanged views with the scholars present and discussed the current hot topics in the international situation.
As a prestigious American scholar and former advisor to Barack Obama, Professor Pape’s visit to China served as an important bridge for academic and policy exchanges between the two countries. His trip to Beijing not only facilitated academic exchange but also underscored the Center’s commitment to providing a platform that fosters meaningful intellectual dialogue and promotes collaboration between UChicago and institutions worldwide.
