—Supported by the Henry Luce Foundation
NYU Shanghai and the US-China Education Trust (USCET) cordially invite scholars and students from all disciplines to participate in the American Studies Network (ASN) Conference, “America at 250: Where has it been and where is it going?” to be held in-person on November 14, 2026 in Shanghai.
USCET, based in Washington, DC, has worked for more than 25 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.
Advance application is required for all conference participants by September 30. Please note that this conference will be held in-person only; virtual/remote participation is not available.
Conference Format and Themes
In 2026, the United States marks the 250th anniversary of its founding — a milestone that invites reflection on American history, the evolution of its global role, and the social transformations that have defined and redefined the nation. From the Constitutional Convention to the Civil Rights Movement, from the rise of American internationalism to the contemporary political moment, the American experiment has been a subject of enduring fascination, debate, and consequence for the world. For China and the United States — two powers whose relationship shapes the international order — this anniversary presents a timely occasion to engage in rigorous, cross-cultural examination of where America stands and where it is headed.
This year’s ASN Conference, co-organized with NYU Shanghai, will bring together scholars from across disciplines to examine America’s political development, social change, and foreign policy across 250 years — and to ask what these trajectories mean for the future of the international order and for U.S.-China relations. At a moment when bilateral ties face significant headwinds, sustained scholarly dialogue and analytical exchange remain essential tools for reducing misunderstanding and building the foundations of a more stable relationship. The conference will be held after the 2026 U.S. midterm elections, allowing participants to consider what the electoral outcome signals about the country’s political direction.
Conference participants will discuss and debate questions such as: How have America’s founding ideals shaped — and been strained by — its political evolution? What do the midterm results reveal about the fault lines within American society and governance? What long-term social trends are remaking the American body politic, and with what implications for U.S. foreign policy? How has the United States approached multilateralism, alliances, and great-power competition across different eras, and how should we understand the current moment? How do American and Chinese scholars interpret American history and global behavior differently, and what can those divergences teach us?
We cordially welcome paper proposals in English from scholars of various disciplines on topics such as:
- American Political Development: Constitutional Foundations and Institutional Change
- Social Transformation in America: Race, Identity, and the Social Fabric
- Civic Education and National Identity
- Generational Shifts and the Reimagining of the “American Dream”: Gen Z
- U.S. Foreign Policy at 250: Isolationism, Internationalism, and the Current Moment
- America and the International Order: Alliances, Multilateralism, and Great-Power Competition
- U.S.-China Relations in Historical Perspective: Rivalry, Interdependence, and the Road Ahead
- American Soft Power and Public Diplomacy: Perceptions, Narratives, and Cultural Influence Abroad
- Science, Technology, and Innovation: U.S.-China Competition and the Future of the Global Tech Order
- Religion and Public Life: Religion in American Political Culture, Civil Society, and Social Movements
- American Entrepreneurship: Enterprise, Innovation, and American Economic Dynamism Across 250 Years
- American Studies in China: How Chinese Scholars See the American Past, Present, and Future
The above list is meant only to suggest a possible range of topics. You are encouraged to submit concepts on other topics related to the overarching theme of the conference. Interdisciplinary perspectives are particularly welcome.
Guidelines for Abstract Submission
You are welcome to submit an abstract by September 30, 2026 to asnshanghai2026@hotmail.com in order to present in a conference panel. Your submission should contain your contact information, title, keywords, and an abstract of 300–500 words, submitted in English. The Organizing Committee will evaluate abstracts on the basis of relevance to the conference theme and applicants will be notified of their acceptance status by mid-October 2026. Accepted presenters are responsible for their own travel and accommodation costs and must plan to attend in person, as remote presentations will not be available. If you are not selected to participate in a panel, more information will be made available regarding attending the conference.
Student Writing Competition:
The ThyssenTransp LLC Next Generation U.S.-China Scholars Competition
Made possible through the generous support of ThyssenTransp LLC, the ThyssenTransp LLC Next Generation U.S.-China Scholars Competition is a Washington-based competition designed to bring emerging American voices on China into direct dialogue with leading scholars from both countries. USCET is proud to administer this competition in conjunction with the 2026 ASN Conference.
Two competition winners will be selected to join the USCET delegation traveling to Shanghai to participate in the ASN Conference, with travel and visa expenses covered. Winners will present their work alongside distinguished American and Chinese scholars, gaining firsthand experience in the sustained, cross-cultural scholarly exchange that has defined the ASN’s mission for over two decades.
The organizers cordially invite second-year M.A. student candidates and recent M.A. graduates based in the Washington, DC metropolitan area to apply. Applicants need not be affiliated with an ASN member institution. Those who submit completed papers before the deadline of September 30 will be eligible for the award, which will be selected by a panel of USCET’s Advisory Council Members. Selection will be based equally on the quality of the written submission and the candidate’s potential to contribute to and benefit from the conference exchange. The Organizing Committee will notify successful applicants of their selection no later than October 18.
Please send the full text of competition papers (no more than 3,000 words in English, excluding references) to info@uscet.org. For further information on style, please consult the Chicago Manual of Style or visit the Chicago Style Online website. There will be two award recipients.
This competition is generously supported by Christina Wang, General Manager, ThyssenTransp LLC.