Sujian Guo

Sujian Guo headshot

Sujian Guo

()

Professor
Political Science, College of Liberal and Creative Arts

Email:
Phone Number:
(415) 338-7523
Location:
HUM 370

At SF State Since:

Office Hours:

Sunday: Closed
Monday: Closed
Tuesday: 13:40-14:40
Wednesday: Closed
Thursday: Closed
Friday: Closed
Saturday: Closed

Bio

Dr. Sujian Guo is Professor in the Department of Political Science and Director of Center for US-China Policy Studies (CUSCPS) at San Francisco State University, endeavoring to enhance knowledge of China, deepen understanding of US-China relations, and promote collaborative relationships with academic and governmental institutions in China and elsewhere in the world. To facilitate these endeavrs, Guo also holds honorable, adjunct professorships and guest research fellow at many Chinese academic institutions, such as Fudan IAS, Fudan University Center for Chinese Foreign Policy, Renmin University of China, North China University, Zhejiang University, Inner Mongolia University, and Guizhou University.

Guo is Editor-in-Chief of Journal of Chinese Political Science, a refereed academic journal published by Springer, and Editor of Rowman & Littlefield Publishers-Lexington's book series "Challenges Facing Chinese Political Development." Guo is also Director of BSS summer program at Peking University in Beijing.

His areas of specialization include Comparative Politics, International Relations and Methodology. His research interests have focused on Chinese politics, US-China relations, governance, environmental and energy policy, communist and post-communist studies, democratic transition, and comparative political economy.

He has published more than 60 articles both in English and Chinese, and over 30 authored and edited books such as:

Guo received his Ph.D. in political science from University of Tennessee in Knoxville (1999), a M.A. in political science from Marquette University in Milwaukee (1993), and a M.A. in international politics from Peking University in Beijing (1987). He taught political science at the rank of visiting assistant professor at Providence College (1999-2000) and Southern Methodist University (2000-2002).

Guo appears on local and national media programs (WFAA-TV, Public Radio-KERA, Dallas Morning News, Atlantic Monthly, KTSF Channel 26, KTVU Channel 2, ABC Channel 7, NBC Channel 11, KALW 91.7 FM, Sing Tao Daily, World Journal, Sing Tao Chinese Radio, Ming Pao, Qiao Bao, Newsweek Japan, China News Service, etc.) to speak on a variety of current issues in U.S.-China-Taiwan relations, US-China trade, China rising and its implications for the world, Asian security issues, Chinese domestic politics, reforms, foreign policy, U.S. war on Iraq, Middle East Crisis, and human rights issues, etc.

 

CV

Books

Books by Sujian Guo

Published Books

  The Palgrave Handbook of Local Governance in Contemporary China (Palgrave-Macmillan, 2019)
  Governance in Transitional China (Shanghai People’s Press, 2017)
  China Green and Low Carbon Development and Transition (Zhejiang University Press, 2017)
  Global Sustainable Energy Competitiveness: BRICS in Focus (Zhejiang University Press, 2016)
  Global Sustainable Energy Competitiveness Report (Zhejiang University Press, 2015)
 

The Political Economy of China's Great Transformation
(Routledge, 2016) co-authored with Michael Feng and Carsten Herrmann-Pillath
ISBN-978-1-13-894400-8 (Hardback)

The book consists of three parts: first, covering the current political transformation, providing a general political background for the socio-economic, fiscal, urban and rural transformation...(more)

 

Theorizing Chinese Citizenship
Rowman & Littlefield, 2015 (co-edited with Zhonghua Guo)
ISBN 978-1-4985-1669-3 • Hardback | 978-1-4985-1670-9 • eBook

This volume theorizes the concept of citizenship in contemporary China by probing into the formation of Chinese citizenship and synthesizing the practices of citizenship by different social groups. The first section, “Imagining Chinese Citizenship,” analyses how Chinese citizenship was first imagined by means of translation and education at the beginning of the twentieth century. The Chinese citizenship was then compared with the concept of Western citizenship and that of other Asian countries. The second section, “Citizenship of Chinese Migrant Workers,” explains..(more)

 

State-Society Relations and Governance in China
Rowman & Littlefield, 2014
ISBN 978-0-7391-9179-8 • Hardback | 978-0-7391-9180-4 • eBook

State–society relations and governance are closely related areas of study and have become important topics in the social sciences in the past decades, not only in developed countries but also in the developing world. In China, state-society relations have been changing in the new era of reform and opening, and governance has become a central concern in policy practice and in academia...(more)

 

Democratic Transitions: Modes and Outcomes
(Routledge, 2014) ISBN: 978-0-415-64320-7 (co-authored with Gary Stradiotto)

This book offers cross-national comparisons of democratic transition since the turn of the twentieth century and asks what makes democracies succeed or fail. In doing so it explores the influence the mode of transition has on the longevity or durability of the democracy, by theoretically examining and quantitatively testing this relationship. The authors argue that the mode of transition directly impacts the success and failure of democracy, and suggest that cooperative transitions, where opposition groups work together with incumbent elites to peacefully transition the state, result in democracies that last longer and are associated with higher measures of democratic quality...
http://www.routledge.com/books/details/9780415643207
 

Political Science and Chinese Political Studies: the State of the Field
(Springer, 2012) ISBN: 978-3-642-29589-8 (hardback $139.00)

The excellent articles in this eye-opening volume offer the analyses of diverse but extremely well-informed scholarship on these most vital matters. This book is a must read for anyone seeking to comprehend these most profound questions about how Chinese political studies has developed and where it is heading. —Edward Friedman, University of Wisconsin, Madison

A thought-provoking collection that draws together Chinese and western scholars to ruminate about the field of Chinese politics. This book shows us how research is changing, how area and disciplinary approaches can support each other, and how “indigenous” and western concepts can deepen the study of Chinese politics. —Kevin J. O'Brien, University of California, Berkeley

 

Chinese Politics and Government: Power, Ideology and Organization
(Routledge, 2012) ISBN-978-0-415-55139-7 (paperback 39.95)| 978-0-415-55138-0 (hardback 145.00)

"This book fills a crying need for a readable yet thorough text on Chinese politics that provides a clear analysis and description of the Chinese political process itself while also putting it in a comparative context. Guo's work describes the formal structure and informal workings of the Chinese political system, with attention to the Chinese cultural and Marxist ideological backgrounds, showing the relevance of the study of Chinese politics to more general empirical theories in political science." Peter Moody is Professor of Political Science at The University of Notre Dame in South Bend, Indiana.

"This textbook is an excellent example of combining theories of Chinese political studies with comprehensions of PRC political practices. It is written with insights penetrating into the essence of the Chinese political system and perspectives positioning this system in the comparative contexts of world communism and international politics — its depth has reached an admirable level of scholarship." Guoguang Wu, Professor of Political Science and Chair in China and Asia-Pacific Relations, University of Victoria, Canada.

 

Civil Society and Governance in China
(Palgrave Macmillan, 2012) <with Jianxing Yu>
ISBN: 978-0-230-34096-1, ISBN10: 0-230-34096-2

"State-society relations have changed in important ways in recent years, and various sorts of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) are emerging. Do these NGOs mean that 'civil society' is developing? What does 'civil society' mean in the context of China? Are these new NGOs improving governance in China? What do they mean about the future development of state-society relations? Jianxing Yu, Sujian Guo, and their contributors explore these questions in this timely and important book."—Joseph Fewsmith, professor of International Relations and Political Science and director of Boston University Center for the Study of Asia

"Scholars have long hotly debated how theoretical and conceptual understandings of civil society can apply to China. This book does not seek to come up with one single Western or Chinese answer to the problem, but rather attempts to understand how the interaction of state and society solves important problems of public policy and public goods provision in China. By looking at the intersection of governance and social participation, the authors provide valuable insights into state-society relations in a changing institutional environment."—Gunter Schubert, professor and chair of Greater China Studiesn at University of T�bingen

 

China's Search for Good Governance
Palgrave Macmillan, 2011
ISBN-10: 0230117287 ISBN-13: 978-0230117280  <co-edited with Z. Deng >

'The focus of this work is on the problem of 'governance,' the effective exercise of authority over society and society's acknowledgement of that authority, an issue of both practical and intellectual current relevance. The book is certainly timely now.'  - Peter R. Moody, Professor of Political Science, University of Notre Dame, USA
 
'To what extent can power be legitimized by governance that is good, though not democratic in procedural terms? This volume gives answers from a mostly Chinese perspective and will certainly trigger much debate among scholars interested in China's evolving state-society relationship.'  - Gunter Schubert, Chair of Greater China Studies, University of Tuebingen, Germany

 

Reviving Legitimacy: Lessons for and from China
Rowman & Littlefield-Lexington, 2011
ISBN 0-7391-6522-4 / 978-0-7391-6522-5 <with Deng Zhenglai>

"This collection of essays sheds new light not just on the potential for democratic rule in China, but also on sources of legitimacy that do not fit neatly in the dichotomy between "good" democratic and "bad" authoritarian regime types. Highly recommended reading for anybody concerned about the theory and practice of Chinese politics and what it can offer to the rest of the world."—Daniel Bell, Tsinghua University (Beijing) and Jiaotong University (Shanghai)

 

Thirty Years of China-US Relations: Analytical Approaches and Contemporary Issues
Rowman & Littlefield-Lexington, 2010
 ISBN 0-7391-4696-3 | 978-0-7391-4696-5 (co-edited w/ B. Guo)

"Thirty Years of China–U.S. Relations is a thought-provoking collection that will prod even informed readers to rethink some of their most basic premises about Chinese foreign policy."—Edward Friedman, University of Wisconsin

"This collection of essays by both well-established and younger scholars, mainly from China and elsewhere in east Asia, provides substantively rich and theoretically informed perspectives on the development of relations between China and the United States in the three decades since normalization; it is especially timely now when Sino-American relations and perhaps world history generally have reached a new turning point."—Peter R. Moody, Jr., University of Notre Dame

 

Environmental Protection Policy and Experience in the U.S. and China's Western Regions
Rowman & Littlefield-Lexington, 2010 
ISBN 0-7391-4742-0 | 978-0-7391-4742-9 (co-edited w/ J. Kassiola & X. Zhang)

"The U.N. Climate Conference in Copenhagen made clear that the fate of the planet rests in large part on the environmental policies of two superpowers, China and the United States. This volume could not be more timely with its analysis and comparison of environmental policy in China and the United States."—Carlos Davidson, San Francisco State University

"The strength of this book lies in the contributors' shared and genuine attempt to explore the potential of mutual learning in environmental protection between the United States and China. The comparative case studies included in the volume are coherent as a whole, and highly relevant to the field of environmental politics individually."—Fengshi Wu, Chinese University of Hong Kong

 

China's Environmental Crisis: Domestic and Global Political Impacts and Responses
Palgrave Macmillan, 2010 
ISBN 978-0-230-10664-2, ISBN10: 0-230-10664-1 (co-edited w/ J. Kassiola)

“The authors cover a wide span of issues ranging from the analysis of current ecological conditions (such as desertification, biodiversity, and food security, all closely interlinked to global climate change) to the role of environmental NGOs and social change caused by environmental issues and governance. Going beyond a pure scientific description of environmental issues, the book provides valuable insights in their possible reasons and ways out and shows the interdependencies of economic growth, environmental degradation, and their repercussions on the Chinese society.... Containing important insights into China’s most challenging environmental issues, this book is a must for environmental policy analysts.”—Andreas Oberheitmann, International Director, Research Center for International Environmental Policy, Tsinghua University

 

Greater China in an Era of Globalization
Rowman & Littlefield-Lexington, 2009
ISBN 0-7391-3534-1 | 978-0-7391-3534-1 (co-edited w/ B. Guo)

This book looks at the success of China and its surrounding territories of Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Macau and asks the question "What is Chinese globalization?". The contributors in this volume look to answer this question by examining China's role both in its immediate sphere of influence and in the greater world. In doing so, the contributors argue that its push to globalize has had as much effect on the country itself, both politically and culturally, as it has had on the world. The contributors further the argument by analyzing China's influence on the rising nations in Africa and Latin America, before ending the book with a comparative analysis between it and the historic rise and fall of influence of its European counterparts.

 

Harmonious World and China's New Foreign Policy 
Rowman & Littlefield-Lexington, 2008  
ISBN: 0-7391-2603-2 (co-edited w/ J.M. F. Blanchard)

The concept “harmonious world” has become new principles and goals of Chinese foreign policy under the fourth generation leadership. But, the question remains about the exact meanings of these principles and slogans, and their policy implications for Chinese foreign policy behavior. This is the first edited volume that attempts to address this significant question, and its insightful contributions would help this academic field understand new dimensions of Chinese foreign policy and their implications for China’s relations with the world.

 

China in Search of a Harmonious Society  
Rowman & Littlefield-Lexington, 2008 
ISBN: 0-7391-2623-7; 0-7391-2624-5 (co-edited w/ B. Guo)

This book examines the new concept of “building harmonious society” proposed by the Chinese leadership under Hu Jintao, its important implications for the future of Chinese political development, and some major issues and questions in China’s academic and public debate on the search for a harmonious society.  

 

Challenges Facing Chinese Political Development
Lexington-Rowman & Littlefield Publishing, 2007
ISBN 0-7391-2094-8 (co-edited w/ B. Guo)

A topical examination of some of the most recent developments in Chinese politics. Featuring a roster of international scholars, the book comprises an assortment of essays focusing on a particular dimension or specific issue of political culture, political economy, foreign policy, environmental and social challenges... 

 

New Dimensions of Chinese Foreign Policy 
Lexington-Rowman & Littlefield Publishing, 2007
ISBN 0-7391-1876-5; 0-7391-1877-3 (co-edited w/ S. Hua)

An in-depth analysis of China's new place in international affairs. Taking Hu Jintao's proposal for "peaceful development" as a starting point, the contributors in this volume examine the new trends of thought in the fourth generation of Chinese policymakers... 

 

China in the Twenty-First Century: Challenges and Opportunities 
Palgrave-Macmillan Publishers, 2007
ISBN 1-4039-7975-8 (co-edited w/ S. Hua)

This edited volume looks at China in the twenty-first century from a holistic perspective. Each of the ten authors emphasizes a particular dimension of politics, political economy, political culture and foreign policy focusing on a specific issue within the broader dimension...

 

The Political Economy of Asian Transition from Communism
Ashgate Publishing, 2006
ISBN 0-7546-4735-8

The author conducts a comparative study of the political economy of the transition from communism in East and Southeast Asian countries (China, North Korea, Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia), addressing the key theoretical questions generated from the debate between shock-therapists and gradualists... (Review by DPR)

 

China's Peaceful Rise in the 21st Century: Domestic and International Conditions
Ashgate Publishing, 2006
ISBN 0-7546-4847-8

This comprehensive and timely study examines the conditions and challenges of China's 'peaceful rise' and addresses the central question of whether it is possible for China to 'rise peacefully' in the 21st century, bearing in mind the implications for China and the rest of the world... 

 

Post-Mao China: from Totalitarianism to Authoritarianism?
Praeger Publishers, 2000
ISBN: 0-275-96780-8

The author seeks to reconstruct a plausible macro-model in conceptual and comparative terms for defining "regime identity" and assessing the nature of regime change. Professor Guo then applies the model to the study of regime change in post-Mao China and reevaluates post-Mao changes across the five major empirical aspects of regime change (political, ideological, economic, legal, and social) and the most critical dimensions of each.

Book Series Editor

New Book Series Editor

Challenges Facing Chinese Political Development

From Lexington-Rowman & Littlefield Publishers
*Series Editor: Sujian Guo, Ph.D. San Francisco State University*

In an attempt to reflect the rapidly changing political environment of the People's Republic of China, editor Sujian Guo has assembled a book series to present specialized areas of research in current Chinese political studies. Incorporating theoretical, empirical, and policy research on contemporary Chinese politics both domestically and internationally, this series contemplates the Chinese past, present, and future by utilizing interdisciplinary perspectives to approach issues related to Chinese politics, economy, culture, social development, reform, the military, legal system, and foreign relations.

View recent titles in the series

Submissions Guidlines

To submit a manuscript for consideration by Lexington-Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, please send the following material via email to sguo@sfsu.edu:

  1. prospectus explaining your work in detail:
    - Two or three paragraphs that describe the book, title and subtitles of the work, the core theme, arguments, issues or questions you seek to answer, its significance, and the specific contribution that this work will make to its field.
    - Please indicate two or three other significant books that have been written on similar topics and discuss what makes your work unique.
    - Has any part of your work been published previously or to be published? Is the work under consideration by other publishers? What is the estimated length of your manuscript (number of double-spaced pages, or number of words)? What is the present state of your manuscript? How many chapters are written? When do you expect to complete your manuscript? Who might be qualified reviewers for this work (2-3 readers)
  2. Please submit a complete outline/Table of Contents of the book, listing first-level headings, with second-level entries, if possible. You may include paragraphs within the outline where appropriate to clarify or expand on a unique aspect of the work.
  3. Please submit a sample chapter or two (if available) that best represent the basic idea, quality, and distinctiveness of your work. If the Introduction is written, submit it as well.
  4. Please include a copy of your most updated curriculum vitae, including complete contact information.  If you have co-authors, their C.V. should also be included.

Courses

Courses:

  • PLSI 106 Capitalism, Socialism, and Democracy: Introduction to Political Economy
  • PLSI 250 Comparative Politics
  • PLSI 404 Chinese Politics (GE Segment III)
  • PLSI 411 East Asian Politics (GE Segment III)
  • PLSI 418 Political Transition in E and SE Asia (GWAR)
  • PLSI 419 Comparative Political Economy​

 

Videos

 

Research Assistance

Ask a librarian via online chat or in person at the 1st floor Research Commons. 
PLSI Research Guide: http://libguides.sfsu.edu/politicalscience

Subject specific research consultations: Mira Foster, PLSI Librarian
Email: mira@sfsu.edu, Tel: (415) 405-2590

 

Teaching Specialty and Interest

Courses Taught

  • Introduction to Political Science
  • Introduction to International Relations
  • Introduction to Political Ideologies
  • Introduction to Political Economy
  • Comparative Politics
  • Comparative Political Economy
  • Comparative Asian Politics
  • East Asian Politics
  • Chinese Politics
  • Political Transition in East and Southeast Asia
  • International Political Economy
  • American National Security
  • Politics of Developing Areas
  • Senior seminar: Theory and Practice of Democratic Transitions
  • Graduate seminars: Comparative Politics; Democracies and Democratization; Asian Transitions from Communism

Resources

Journal of Chinese Political Science 中國政治學刊

Editor-in-Chief: Sujian Guo, San Francisco State University

Associate Editor-in-Chief: Jessica C. Teets, Middlebury College

Editors:
Julie Yu-Wen Chen, University of Helsinki
Yitan Li, Seattle University
Josef Gregory Mahoney, East China Normal University
Hong PANG, Utah Valley University
Zhongyuan Wang, Fudan University
Chunman Zhang, Johns Hopkins University
Jiangnan Zhu, University of Hong Kong

ISSN: 1080-6954 (print) 1874-6357 (online) 
Publication Frequency: 4 issues per year
Subject: Chinese Political Studies, Political Science, Social Sciences, law, and humanities
Publisher: Springer

View the Springer Journal of Chinese Political Science website for further information.

 

Aims and Scope

Journal of Chinese Political Science (JCPS) is a refereed academic journal that publishes theoretical, policy, and empirical research articles on Chinese politics across the whole spectrum of political science, with emphasis on Chinese domestic politics and foreign policy in comparative perspectives. However, JCPS also welcomes manuscripts on different aspects of contemporary China when these relate closely to Chinese politics, political economy, political culture, reform and opening, development, the military, law and legal system, foreign relations, and other important issues of political significance.

Abstracted and Indexed In:

  • ANVUR
  • CNKI
  • Current Contents / Social & Behavioral Sciences
  • Dimensions
  • EBSCO Academic Search
  • EBSCO Advanced Placement Source
  • EBSCO Discovery Service
  • EBSCO Political Science Complete
  • Google Scholar
  • Institute of Scientific and Technical Information of China
  • Journal Citation Reports/Social Sciences Edition
  • Naver
  • OCLC WorldCat Discovery Service
  • ProQuest Central
  • ProQuest International Bibliography of the Social Sciences (IBSS)
  • ProQuest Politics Collection
  • ProQuest Research Library
  • ProQuest Social Science Collection
  • ProQuest-ExLibris Primo
  • ProQuest-ExLibris Summon
  • SCImago
  • SCOPUS
  • Social Science Citation Index
  • TD Net Discovery Service
  • UGC-CARE List (India)

Center for US-China Policy

美中政策研究中心 • 美国旧金山州立大学

Welcome from the Director

Center for US-China Policy Studies (CUSCPS) is a research unit based in the College of Behavioral and Social Sciences (BSS) at San Francisco State University. The Center seeks to advance knowledge of China and deepen understanding of US-China relations. It promotes research, teaching, training, and outreach on US-China domestic and international policy issues. It provides policy research, data collection, analysis, and consultation to interested government agencies, non-profit organizations, community groups and businesses. It facilitates academic exchange and serves as a bridge and a base for collaboration between the college and the university and any other institutions or organizations, particularly in China.

SFSU has about 100 Chinese American faculty members, a largest Chinese American faculty body in the American universities. Supported by an interdisciplinary network of SFSU faculty, CUSCPS draws upon the knowledge and expertise of scholars from across the entire university, including political science, public policy, international relations, economics, political and economic geography, geographic information systems, urban planning and policy, anthropology, environmental policy, history, media and journalism, business, education, social work, health, and other academic disciplines and fields in humanities, social sciences, engineering and sciences.

I look forward to communicating with you and welcoming you to be part of our endeavor. Please contact me at sguo@sfsu.edu if you are interested in the US-China relations and would like to make a connection with us.

Sujian Guo, Ph.D.
Director of Center for US-China Policy Studies
San Francisco State University
1600 Holloway Ave. HSS 264
San Francisco, CA 94132, USA
Email: sguo@sfsu.edu

Videos and Photos

2005-2006 Selection

Nuclear Summit  <small size>
KTSF Ch. 26 Night Talk (4/13/2010)

 

The World in 2050: China the Superpower? 
(Ideas Tour Speakers)
The Atlantic Monthly Ideas Tour Town Hall discussion in San Francisco (10/28/2006) 

 

Corruption and Governance in China
KTSF Ch. 26 Night Talk (10/25/2006)

 

Middle East Crisis
KTSF Ch. 26 Night Talk (08/07/2006)

 

Hu-Bush Summit and US-China Relations
KTSF Ch. 26 Night Talk (09/07/2005)

 

郭蘇建徐隆德談政府與媒體 - 從台灣電視臺換照風波談起
Sing Tao Chinese Radio (08/09/2005)

 

China's Rising: Domestic and Foreign Policy
KTSF Ch. 26 Night Talk [1]-[2]-[3] (07/29/2005)