China in International affairs, Fall 2021

Upper-level undergraduate lecture (University of Southern California)

From the trade war and territorial disputes to public health and climate change, China is often at the forefront of media headlines – and, increasingly, contentious policy debates. But what does China’s apparently inexorable rise, both economic and military, mean for the United States and the rest of the world? What does China want and what drives its behavior on the global stage? This course will situate China’s contemporary behavior in an understanding of the history of China’s foreign relations, its domestic politics, and an evolving international system. We will examine the changes and continuity in China’s foreign policy over time, and cover different facets of its international behavior – such as its economic model, use of military force and conflict, nationalism, overseas propaganda, and attitudes toward regime survival, national sovereignty, and human rights. We will also investigate the nature of China’s role in the international order, what it means to have global influence (or lack thereof), and the implications for U.S.-China relations.

The Money and The Message: Influence and Statecraft in World Politics, Fall 2021

Advanced undergraduate seminar (University of Southern California)

In this advanced undergraduate seminar, we will examine new strategies through which countries can gain influence and power on the global stage in the 21st century. As the world has become more interdependent, economic and informational tools have become more prominent in national security and foreign policy toolkits. In recent years, we have seen how the flow of information can be weaponized and distorted to change minds and create political divisions – think Russian interference in U.S. elections and social media disinformation campaigns. Additionally, global commerce has promoted peaceful exchanges to some extent but also enabled the wielding of economic clout by powerful countries – the dominance of the U.S. dollar has enabled Washington to impose financial sanctions on countries such as Iran and North Korea, while China is actively using the lure of its consumer market and foreign investments to get companies and governments to fall in line with its demands. When and how might economic and informational tools be used for geopolitical influence? Are authoritarian regimes better able to marshal the money and the message for foreign interference activities or otherwise? What does China’s rise, including in these non-military domains, mean for U.S. hegemony, how have other countries in the international system responded, and what does this mean for the trajectory of world order? While this course has no formal prerequisites, familiarity with introductory political science and international relations coursework is recommended.

Chinese Politics, Fall 2017 (tA for Professor Rory Truex)

Upper-level undergraduate class (Princeton University). Taught three precept sections.

This course provides an overview of China's political system. We will begin with a brief historical overview of China's political development from 1949 to the present. The remainder of the course will examine the key challenges facing the current generation of CCP leadership, focusing on prospects for democratization and political reform. Among other topics, we will examine: factionalism and political purges; corruption; avenues for political participation; village elections; public opinion; protest movements and dissidents; co-optation of the business class; and media and internet control.

China's Foreign Relations, Spring 2017 (TA for Professor Tom Christensen)

Upper-level undergraduate class (Princeton University). Taught three precept sections.

This course will review and analyze the foreign policy of the People's Republic of China from 1949 to the present. It will examine Beijing's relations with the Soviet Union, the United States, Northeast Asia, Southeast Asia, and the developing world during the Cold War. It will explore the impact on China's foreign relations of changes in the Chinese economy since the reform era began in 1978, the domestic legitimacy challenges in Beijing since the Tiananmen protests of 1989, and the continuing rise of Chinese power and influence in Asia and beyond since the end of the Cold War.