Wednesday 13 November 2024: Lecture by Dr. Heng Chen, Department of Languages and Cultures, Faculty of Arts and Philosophy, Ghent University

“Between Cosmopolitanism and Nationalism: Lu Xun’s Influence on Chinese society’s Perspective on the World.”

Intro to the lecture:
Lu Xun (1881-1936) was a foundational figure in modern Chinese literature. Widely read by the intelligentsia and general public alike since the 1920s, and aided by the ruling CCP’s canonization, Lu Xun remains an influential figure in contemporary China. Lu Xun’s lasting impact and contemporary relevance, however, is not without its problems. Largely overshadowed by his commitment to a leftist political cause in the last decade of his life, Lu Xun’s intellectual legacy is often viewed through the lens of the political struggles of 20th century China. Was he really a Bolshevik outside the CCP, as Mao has claimed? Did Lu Xun really lack a constructivist politics? How is his cosmopolitan eclecticism still relevant to our day and age? In this lecture, I want to assess how, as an individual caught in the rapidly transformative forces of fin-de-siècle East Asia, Lu Xun captured the spirit of his time and responded powerfully to the various intellectual currents of his age, which transcended his locale and time.

Auditorium Vandenhove

13-11-2024 19:00 - 20:30

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Wednesday 27 November 2024: Lecture by Prof. Bart Dessein: Department of Languages and Cultures, Faculty of Arts and Philosophy, Ghent University and Egmont – Royal Institute for International Relations, Brussels

"How Geopolitics shape Geo-economics: China, its Periphery, and the Global South" 

Intro to the lecture:
This lecture sets out from the observation that ever since Deng Xiaoping (1904–1997) launched his ‘reform and opening-up’ (gaige kaifang) campaign at the end of the 1970s, the global economic balance appears to have been shifting to Asia, and most importantly to the People’s Republic of China (PRC). This lecture will discuss how this economic development is not unrelated to alliances and alignments of the PRC in the geopolitical context: the end of the Cold War, the developing relationships with the Soviet Union/Russia, the PRC’s relationship with the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea and the Republic of Korea, and the increasingly growing importance of the ‘Global South’. Reflections will also be made on how the changing balance on the global scene forces the ‘Global North’ to rethink global order.

Auditorium Vandenhove

27-11-2024 19:00 - 20:30

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Tuesday 3 December 2024: Lecture by Jasper Roctus, Department of Languages and Cultures, Faculty of Arts and Philosophy, Ghent University and Egmont – Royal Institute for International Relations, Brussels

“Cross-Strait Relations and the Geopolitical Impact on Contemporary Society in Taiwan and East Asia.”

Intro to the lecture:
This lecture examines the intricate dynamics of cross-Strait relations and their far-reaching geopolitical impact on contemporary society in both Taiwan and East Asia. The evolving geopolitical landscape, marked by China's rising assertiveness and the strategic involvement of global powers such as the US and Europe, shapes Taiwan's identity and policies. The contested relationship between China and Taiwan is also a focal point influencing diplomatic alliances, defense strategies, and socio-political developments across East Asia, topics that that this lecture will also touch upon.

Auditorium Vandenhove

03-12-2024 19:00 - 20:30

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Tuesday 10 December 2024:  Lecture by Prof. Sven Biscop, Faculty of Political and Social Sciences, Ghent University and Director of the Europe in the World Programme at the Egmont – Royal Institute for International Relations, Brussels

“China and the Ukraine War: Where Is Great Power Politics Heading?”

Intro to the lecture:
China supports Russia: this is what we were told very early on in the Ukraine War. Things are not that simple, however. Certainly not for China: it has gained from this war, but at the same time finds itself performing an ever more tricky balancing act between its close partnership with Russia and its economic relations with the West. What does this say about the future of great power politics? Are we heading for a clash or is a grand bargain still possible?

Auditorium Vandenhove

10-12-2024 19:00 - 20:30

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