Press Release

SF State creates Center for U.S.-China Policy Studies
Center will collaborate with Chinese institutions on research, training, international exchanges

By Matt Itelson

SAN FRANCISCO, August 8, 2006 -- San Francisco State University has created the Center for U.S.-China Policy Studies (CUSCPS), an academic think tank that will promote and coordinate joint research, training, scholarship, outreach and collaboration with China on a diverse range of topics.

Associate Professor of Political Science Sujian Guo, a well-noted scholar of Chinese politics and editor of the new book "China's 'Peaceful Rise' in the 21st Century" (Ashgate Press), serves as director of the center. Assistant Professor of International Relations Jean-Marc F. Blanchard serves as associate director.

Driven by China's increasing prominence in the world economy and regional and global affairs over the last two decades, CUSCPS will explore the country's dramatic economic growth, profound integration into the global trade and production system, economic and political transition, and foreign policy -- particularly U.S.-China relations and domestic and international policy issues.

Guo said these issues have not only had an unprecedented global and regional impact, but also significant effects on relations between China and other world powers such as the United States.

"Intense concern and even alarm about these developments exist in the Bush administration, U.S. Congress, and even the general public, and have provoked strong reactions to efforts by China to purchase American companies, buy European arms, and build relations in Africa," said Guo, who also serves as president of the Association of Chinese Political Studies and editor of the Journal of Chinese Political Science.

"The United States' reactions to these developments attest to the pressing need to enhance our understanding of what has happened and what is likely to happen in the years to come as well as to foster mutual understanding and goodwill between our nations."

Guo said that SF State is well-poised for such a center because of the international nature of the University and its geographic proximity to China. SF State's student body is 15 percent Chinese American and its faculty is 16 percent Asian American. In addition, 7 percent of the University's international students come from China.

The new center has begun to explore opportunities for research collaboration and academic exchange between faculty and students at SF State and leading universities in China. In June, CUSCPS research associates, led by Guo and joined by SF State College of Behavioral and Social Sciences Dean Joel Kassiola, made a visit to China and met with administrators and faculty at Peking University, Renmin University, the Chinese Central Party School, Fudan University, Tongji University, Shanghai Jiao Tong University and the Shanghai Institute of American Studies. Members of the CUSCPS delegation also gave presentations and speeches on a range of issues related to Chinese politics, environmental issues and foreign relations.

Guo said these visits have proved very fruitful in establishing connections and collaborative relationships with these institutions. Both the CUSCPS and Chinese institutions expressed great interest in establishing long-term collaborative and exchange relationships to advance each other's missions, Guo added.

CUSCPS, based in SF State's College of Behavioral and Social Sciences, has an interdisciplinary network of faculty associates across the campus. Drawing upon the knowledge and expertise of scholars from a wide range of disciplines, CUSCPS may also serve as a coordinating agent for faculty from all disciplines to collaborate on work related to U.S.-China policy studies and extend their research and teaching into the country. The center will hold an inaugural seminar in October on the SF State campus.

For more information, visit the CUSCPS Web site at http://cuscps.sfsu.edu or contact Guo at sguo@sfsu.edu.