Jean-Pierre Cabestan lecture, “China Tomorrow: Dictatorship or Democracy?” (Nov. 25, 2019)

The BU Center for the Study of Asia is pleased to present a lecture and discussion with

Prof. Jean-Pierre Cabestan

(Dept. of Political Science, Hong Kong Baptist University)

China Tomorrow: Dictatorship of Democracy?

Monday, Nov. 25, 2019 from 12-1:30 pm at the

Frederick S. Pardee School of Global Studies, 121 Bay State Road, Boston University.

A modest lunch will be served!

Abstract:

Arguing against conventional wisdom, this important book makes a compelling case for the continuing strength of China’s one-party system. Many analysts have predicted that China’s unprecedented economic development and middle-class expansion would lead to a liberalization of its political regime and a move toward democracy. Instead, leading scholar Jean-Pierre Cabestan contends that the Chinese Communist Party will continue to adapt and prosper in the coming decades, representing a growing challenge to all democracies. Influenced by China’s traditional culture and even more so by the regime’s Soviet ideology, institutions, and modus operandi, most Chinese are not pushing for democracy, choosing security, stability and prosperity over political freedoms and participation.

About the speaker:

Jean-Pierre Cabestan is Professor of Political Science in the Department of Government and International Studies at Hong Kong Baptist University. He is also associate researcher at the Asia Centre, Paris and at the French Centre for Research on Contemporary China in Hong Kong. He earned his Bachelor degree in Japanese language and Civilization (Licence) and Master degree in Chinese Language and Civilization (Diplome d’etudes approfondies) at Jussieu University (Paris VII), his Ph.D. in Political Science (Doctorat de Science politique) in 1982 at Sorbonne University (Paris I); and a State Doctorate of Law (Doctorat d’Etat en Droit) in 1988 at Pantheon-Sorbonne University (Paris I).

Prior to his present position, Prof. Cabestan has served as a Senior Researcher of the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (French National Centre for Scientific Research), Institute of Comparative Law of the University of Paris 1. (September 2003- August 2007); Director, French Research Centre on Contemporary China, Hong Kong, Director of China Perspectives and Perspectives chinoises (September 1998- August 2003); Director, Taipei Office, French Research Centre on Contemporary China (July 1994-August 1998); Researcher at the Centre for Chinese Studies, National Central Library, Taipei, Taiwan (December 1993 to May 1994); Researcher at the Research Institute of Comparative Institutions and Law of the French National Centre for Scientific Research (Institut de Recherches Compatatives sur les Institutions et le Droit du Centre national de la recherche scientifique), Paris, (from October 1983 to June 1994, (Head of the China Section); and Member of the French Human Rights Delegation to Mainland China (October 1991).

His most recent books include China tomorrow : democracy or dictatorship? (Lanham, MD, Rowman & Littlefield, 2019), published in French as Demain la Chine : démocratie ou dictature? (Paris, Gallimard, 2018); Tanzania-China All-Weather Friendship in the Era of Multipolarity, (with Jean-Raphaël Chaponnière) (Saarbrücken, Lambert Academic Publishing, 2017); La politique internationale de la Chine. Entre intégration et volonté de puissance, (China’s foreign and security policies. Between integration and will to power), Updated and Expanded 2nd Ed. (Paris, Presses de Sciences Po, 2015); and (with Jacques deLisle, eds.), Political Changes in Taiwan Under Ma Ying-jeou. Partisan Conflict, Policy Choices, External Constraints and Security Challenges (Abingdon, Oxon & New York, Routledge, 2014). He has published many articles including “Djibouti, New Battlefield of China’s Global Ambitions”( Journal of Political Risk, Vol. 7, No. 5, May 2019), “Political Changes in China Since the 19th CCP Congress: Xi Jinping Is Not Weaker But More Contested” (East Asia, 18 March 2019. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12140-019-09305-x); ‘Beijing’s “Going Out” Strategy and Belt and Road Initiative in the Sahel: The Case of China’s Growing Presence in Niger’ (Journal of Contemporary China, 26 December 2018, 1–22. https://doi.org/10.1080/10670564.2018.1557948); “China’s Evolving Role as a UN Peacekeeper in Mali” (United States Institute of Peace, Special Report, 26 September 2018); “Taiwan is not isolated! Cross Strait Multiple Interactions in an Era of No High Level Contacts” (China’s World, Vol. 3, No. 1, 2018, pp. 60-80); “China’s Involvement in Africa’s Security: The Case of China’s Participation in the UN Mission to Stabilize Mali” (The China Quarterly, n.d., 1–22. doi:10.1017/S0305741018000929); “Cross Strait Multiple Interactions in an Era of No High-level Contacts” (paper presented at The 14th Annual Conference on China-EU Relations and the Taiwan Question, Shanghai, China, October 19 – 21, 2017); “Changing Identities in Taiwan under Ma Ying-jeou” (in Lowell Dittmer ed., Taiwan and China: Fitful embrace (Oakland, University of California Press, 2017, pp. 42-60); and many others.

For a full list of Prof. Cabestan’s publications, see http://gis.hkbu.edu.hk/staff/cabestan.html