James BROCK
PhD candidate in Chinese Studies, admitted in 2024
MSc - 'China in Comparative Perspective' - The London School of Economics and Political Science
BSc - 'Politics and History' - University of Glasgow
In the context of the British-China relationship, my research aims to explore the interplay between tertiary education, perspectives, and policy outcomes. Since 2016 there has been an increasing chorus of academic and parliamentary criticism of the UK government’s handling of its relationship with China. British sinologists have argued the UK has shown an ‘indifference’ towards learning more about China in the 21st century, which has left the UK “under-equipped conceptually to understand the importance of China in the wider world” (Brown 2019, 6; Gaston and Mitter 2021, 26). They have also argued this attitude engenders an environment where the UK’s China policy unfolds amidst a backdrop of limited cultural insight and a diluted understanding of Chinese current affairs, creating an environment ripe for unforeseen, and sometimes costly policy outcomes.
Considering the important role of education in shaping ideas and beliefs, my research will explore the presence of Chinese authors, theory, history, and current affairs in International Relations (IR) education at UK universities. It will further seek to measure the extent to which the perspectives engendered by this education, affect attitudes towards China among the groups responsible for UK-China policy, and subsequent UK policy outcomes relating to China.