Chinese scholars warned of challenge of ‘translating academic research into policy’
A conference discussing the field known as ‘area studies’ said it was necessary to move beyond Western frameworks
Chinese academic courses designed to deepen understanding of different countries or regions face a challenge in better informing policy and moving beyond frameworks developed in the West, a conference in Beijing has heard.
Speakers said that as the country’s international engagement deepened, it needed a better understanding of the nations it engaged with, including their political systems, histories and strategic priorities.
The discipline – known in China as “area studies” – draws on disciplines including history, politics, economics and sociology to examine individual countries and regions.
