Deadline Extended: Call for Papers – 20th ASN Conference

Beijing Foreign Studies University (BFSU) and US-China Education Trust (USCET) cordially invite scholars and students from all disciplines to participate in the American Studies Network (ASN) Conference, “Connecting People, Cultures and Ideas: Re-examining Sino-American Exchange,” to be held on October 25-27 at BFSU in Beijing. This conference will celebrate the 20th anniversary of the ASN and mark a return to in-person programming. 

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.

Register Here
Abstract-and-Conference-DetailsDownload
Program Preliminary ScheduleDownload

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 registration is required for all conference participants by October 12, 2024.

Conference Format and Themes

From the 1850’s, when Yung Wing became the first Chinese student to graduate from an American university, to the 1970’s, when Ping-Pong Diplomacy brought American and Chinese athletes together for the first time in decades, people-to-people exchanges between China and the United States have played an essential role in US-China relations. Educational and cultural exchange has deepened mutual understanding, trained future scholars and leaders, and helped to counter misinformation and stereotypes that could add to the danger of miscalculations and conflict. During the COVID-19 pandemic, when two-way travel between China and the United States was significantly disrupted, the interchange of ideas, scholars, and culture was severely curtailed as well. Today, even with the pandemic behind us, the normalization of exchanges remains frustratingly slow, impeded by health concerns, high airfares, academic and bureaucratic obstacles, as well as the securitization of the bilateral relationship. This overall stagnation in exchanges and increase in academic isolation has serious implications for people-to-people exchange between the two countries and the future of Sino-American relations. 

As both countries are emerging from the pandemic and resuming interactions, revitalizing exchanges is an important step forward for U.S.-China relations. In light of the prevailing downturn and distrust in today’s bilateral relationship, the 2024 ASN Conference will examine the past, present, and future of U.S. and China people-to-people, educational, and cultural connectivity. Together, we will examine historical legacies and current trends to explore how education and cultural exchange can enrich the foundation of the future of U.S.-China relations. 

Conference participants will discuss and debate various topics concerning current developments in the U.S., the impact of U.S.-China exchange, and the future of U.S.-China relations. How did the earliest exchanges between China and the United States affect the bilateral relationship? What impact has scholarship had on bilateral relations and mutual understanding? What are the key challenges faced by academic institutions in maintaining collaborations amidst the downturn in relations? How can technological advancements enhance cross-cultural engagement between the U.S. and China? What policies or initiatives could potentially strengthen or strain bilateral people-to-people relations?

We cordially welcome paper proposals in English from scholars of various disciplines on topics such as:

  1. U.S.-China Educational and Cultural Exchange: History and Evolution 
  2. Navigating U.S.-China Educational Cultural Exchange Today: Geopolitics, Challenges, International Mobility 
  3. Cultural Diplomacy of China and the US: Soft Power and Mutual Perceptions
  4. Digital Diplomacy: Leveraging Technology for New Possibilities 
  5. U.S. Today and U.S.-China Relations: Politics, Economy and Society  
  6. China Today and U.S.-China Relations: Politics, Economy and Society
  7. American Studies in China: Examining America’s 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. 

Featured American Keynote Speakers 

We are excited to announce that this year’s conference will feature distinguished keynote speakers from the United States, renowned for their contributions to U.S.-China relations. 

  • David M. Lampton, Professor Emeritus of China Studies and Senior Research Fellow at the Foreign Policy Institute of the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS)
  • Robert Daly, Director of the Wilson Center’s Kissinger Institute on China and the United States 
  • Yingyi Ma, Professor of Sociology and Director of Asian/Asian American Studies at Syracuse University
  • Elizabeth Knup, Senior Advisor to China Focus at the Carter Center and Senior Advisor to the University of Pennsylvania’s Project on the Future of US-China Relations. China Regional Director at the Ford Foundation (2013-2023).

These thought leaders bring a wealth of knowledge, drawing from their extensive academic and professional experience in areas critical to U.S.-China relations. We invite all participants to engage with these experts as they share their perspectives on international collaboration and fostering deeper understanding between the U.S. and China.

Registration 

Advance registration is required for all conference participants by October 12, 2024. Please register at the link above.

There is no registration fee. 

Guidelines for Abstract Submission 

You are welcome to submit an abstract by October 12, 2024 to asc@bfsu.edu.cn in order to present in a conference panel. Please find the template in the Abstract and Conference Details download above. Your submission should contain your contact information, title, keywords, and an abstract of 300-500 words. The Organizing Committee will evaluate the abstract on the basis of relevance to the conference theme and notify you of its acceptance no later than October 16, 2024. If you are not selected to participate in a panel, you are welcome to attend the conference.