IN PERSON: Hong Kong, Mongolia, the South China Sea, Taiwan, Tibet, and Xinjiang are sites of profound cultural mystique and geopolitical importance. To understand China’s dynamic periphery, we will explore the experiences of six individuals: 1) a Belgian-French female author who reached Lhasa in 1924 seeking spiritual truth; 2) a Russia/China scholar who wrote about 1930s Sino-Mongolian nomadic societies; 3) a 15th-century Chinese maritime admiral known for his "treasure voyages" in the South China Sea; 4) a Swedish geographer who led a Sino-Swedish expedition in 1930s Gobi/Xinjiang; 5) an American diplomat in the politically and economically transformative 1980s in Taiwan; and 6) the last British governor of Hong Kong who oversaw the 1997 handover to China. We'll discuss how China’s 21st-century periphery policies, like the nine-dash line and Belt and Road Initiative, influence future global developments. Recommended readings will be provided to participants in advance to facilitate discussion. | Facilitated discussion.
Max enrollment: 15.
Location: Judea Reform Congregation, 1933 W. Cornwallis Rd, Durham NC 27705
