16th ASN Conference: “Nixon and China + 50: Reflections and Reassessment” – June 11, 2022
The US-China Education Trust (USCET) invites students and scholars interested in US-China relations to take part in the 16th American Studies Network Conference: Nixon and China + 50: Reflections and Reassessment. The conference, to be held over two sessions, June 11, 2022 from 8:30-11:00am and 8:30-11:00pm Beijing Time (Note: For those in the US, the time will be June 10th, 8:30-11pm and June 11th, 8:30-11am ET), will reflect on 50 years of bilateral relations: challenges, changes in mutual perceptions, and lessons going forward. The 2022 ASN Conference takes place at a critical time in US-China relations, and will explore major themes that have emerged in the five decades since President Richard M. Nixon’s historic visit to China in 1972.
USCET, based in Washington, DC, has worked for more than 20 years to promote US-China relations through education and exchange for the next generation of leaders. The American Studies Network (ASN), facilitated by USCET, consists of 54 Chinese institutions of higher education. Working in partnership with ASN members, USCET has organized an annual American Studies Network Conference in China since 2004.
Submissions of paper abstracts are welcome from students, scholars, and practitioners at all ASN member institutions, as well as other institutions of higher learning in China, the US, and the Asia region. See the guidelines below for details on how to participate.
Applicants must submit abstracts of their proposed papers by April 15, 2022.
Conference Format and Themes:
The 2022 ASN Conference will be held virtually, with possible hybrid events in Beijing and Washington if conditions permit. The virtual conference format has been customized to increase engagement amongst the participants and to allow those in different time zones to participate. The conference will convene over two sessions. Each session will feature a plenary session and two breakout sessions on different topics. The four breakout sessions will focus on these themes and possible questions:
1. Is There Opportunity in Crisis? Are the US and China prepared to work together in future to handle emergencies such as the 2008 global financial crisis, or crises in public health, climate, and geo-politics? What lessons have they learned from past crises? When does a problem become a crisis? What can the US and China do to better prepare for such emergencies in the future?
2. Perspectives On the US and Chinese Economic Ties: Then and Now What are Chinese and American perspectives on US-China economic relations, and how do their perspectives differ? How have bilateral economic ties evolved? How have economic disagreements been dealt with in the past and are there lessons for the future? What are the key issues in US-China economic relations today, and how can they be tackled?
3. Different Times, Changing Societal Aspirations What did the two societies wish for when the US and China reestablished relations in the 1970s, and what do they wish for now? How have bilateral relations impacted Chinese and American society? How have US-China relations been reflected and assessed through art and literature in the two countries? What is the future of China’s Americanists and America’s Sinologists?
4. 50 Years of Bilateral Relations: Lessons Learned and Future Prospects What lessons have we learned from 50 years of bilateral relations and how can these lessons be applied to managing relations for the future? What were the high points and low points of the past 50 years? Is it possible for the US and China to restore bilateral trust and renew collaborations? In what areas is this most likely?
General Guidelines for Abstract Submission and Participation
The Conference Organizing Committee welcomes submissions of abstracts of papers that address the themes of the conference. Applicants must submit abstracts of their proposed papers by April 15, 2022 to ASN@uscet.org. Abstracts should be written in English and be less than 500 words.
All abstracts must contain the following:
– Abstract Title
– Name of the author(s)
– Institutional or Professional Affiliation
– Professional Title
– Email/WeChat ID
The ASN Conference Organizing Committee, comprised of senior American and Chinese scholars, will evaluate the abstracts and invite successful applicants to provide their full papers. The full papers will then be compiled and edited into an ASN publication after the conclusion of the conference, in commemoration of the 50th Anniversary of US-China relations. We look forward to receiving the abstracts as soon as possible. Please submit any questions to ASN@uscet.org.