Viewing the evolving relationship between the Chinese Communist Party and private entrepreneurs, Dickson will examine the implications of recruiting entrepreneurs into the Chinese Communist Party -- a phenomenon that has given rise to the label of "red capitalists." Although many foreign observers expect economic change to lead inevitably to political change in China, Dickson's research reveals that China's entrepreneurs are willing partners with the government; not an autonomous force in opposition to the state.
The lecture will be Tuesday March 28, 2006 from 7-8 p.m. in the Loosemore Auditorium of the DeVos Center. Free parking is available at GVSU's Front Street parking lot
Dickson's research and teaching focus on political dynamics in China and Taiwan, especially the role of political parties in the process of political change. In addition to courses on China, he also teaches on democratization and comparative politics. He served as the director of Sigur Center for Asian Studies at George Washington University. He is a frequent commentator on political developments in China and Taiwan and on U.S.-China relations, and has appeared on CNN, NPR, BBC, and Voice of America. He is the author of "Red Capitalists in China: The Party, Private Entrepreneurs, and Prospects for Political Change" (Cambridge University Press, 2003) and "Democratization in China and Taiwan: The Adaptability of Leninist Parties" (Oxford University Press, 1998). He is also the associate editor of the journal Problems of Post-Communism.
The lecture is sponsored by the East Asian Studies Program, the Van Andel Global Trade Center and the World Affairs Council of West Michigan. E-mail [email protected] for more information
