Public talk by Prof WANG Zhengxu, Fudan University

22/9/2019

On 22nd August, Professor Wang Zhengxu of Fudan University gave a talk on 'Traditional Political Order in China's World: the Confucian-Legalist State and its Impact'. He examined the formation of the bureaucratic imperial political system in China around the Qin and Han periods (221BC-220AD), explaining how its various characteristics helped define patterns of ancient history in China and East Asia. The linkages and exchanges between the Sinosphere –the East Asia cultural/civilizational area – and the Eurasia heartland were also reviewed. The talk concluded with an overview of how this political system and its formative years are impacting social and political life in China and the rest of Asia today. Over 20 University of Nottingham staff, students and local residents attended the talk, with several engaging the speaker with thoughtful and lively questions at the end. The topic is clearly fascinating and of great relevance to anyone interested in either historical or contemporary China.

WANG Zhengxu is a Shanghai 1000-Talent Distinguished Professor at the Department of Politics at Fudan University. Previously, he served as Acting Director and Senior Research Fellow at the China Policy Institute, University of Nottingham. Professor Wang received his PhD in Political Science from University of Michigan in 2005. It was great to welcome him back to Nottingham and share his recent research insight.

~ENDS~