China and the World

For centuries China was seen as a leading civilization, outpacing the rest of the world in the arts and sciences, but in the 19th and early 20th centuries, the country was beset by civil unrest, major famines, military defeats, and foreign occupation.
After World War II, the Communists under Mao Zedong established an autocratic socialist system that, while ensuring China's sovereignty, imposed strict controls over everyday life and cost the lives of tens of millions of people. After 1978, Mao's successor Deng Xiaoping and other leaders focused on market-oriented economic development and by 2000 output had quadrupled. For much of the population, living standards have improved dramatically and the room for personal choice has expanded, yet political controls remain tight. China since the early 1990s has increased its global outreach and participation in international organizations.

NGIZ-Noord and SIB-Groningen are organising a symposium to discuss what influence China has in other parts of the world. There will be a plenary lecture followed by several workshops, where experts on this area will elaborate on this issue. The plenary lecture will be presented by Bettine Vriesekoop. Ms .Vriesekoop worked as a China correspondent for 'NRC Handelsblad'.

There will be four workshops. 'China and the New Scramble for Africa' will be given by dr. Doortmont, he is a Professor in International Relations and Africa Studies. 'China and EU-relations' will be given by dr. Gaenssmantel, he is a lecturer at the university of Groningen. 'China and US Security' will be given by dr. van der Putten, a senior research fellow at the Clingendael Security and Conflict and at Clingendael Asia Studies. The fourth workshop is on 'China in Asia', which will be given by Bettine Vriesekoop.



Find us on Facebook