Chinese Politics and Foreign Policy Seminar
In this series, experts from academia and government offer unique perspectives on contemporary trends in Chinese politics and society and in foreign policy.

Monday, October 26, 2009  12:15 pm

China's Responses to Social Order Challenges and
the Economic Crisis
Murray Scot Tanner, research analyst, Center for Naval Analysis

When the global economic crisis began last fall, Chinese officials were deeply concerned about the impact recession might have on social unrest. Their fears appeared well founded, as the 1997-1999 Asian financial crisis had sparked a tremendous surge in protests, particularly in China's industrial rustbelt regions. Dr. Tanner will examine trends in economy-related social unrest during the past year, including several high-profile incidents of violence, and evaluate the Chinese government's response.

Murray Scot Tanner is a research analyst at the Center for Naval Analysis (CAN). Dr. Tanner has written and published widely on Chinese and East Asian politics and security issues, including internal security, social unrest, policing in China, Chinese leadership politics, and China's relations with its neighboring areas. He is the author or co-author of numerous books, monographs, and articles, including A Question of Balance: Political Context and Military Aspects of the China-Taiwan Dispute (2009) and Chinese Economic Coercion against Taiwan: A Tricky Weapon to Use (2007). Before joining CNA in 2008, Dr. Tanner served as professor of political science at Western Michigan University and as senior political scientist at the RAND Corporation.

Location: Knafel Building, Room 262,
1737 Cambridge Street, Cambridge, MA
Contact: lkluz@fas.harvard.edu

 

back >>