U.S. - China Interactions to Be Spotlighted at Park University's Hauptmann Lecture
David C. Kang to Discuss U.S.-China Relations at the 30th Annual Dr. Jerzy Hauptmann Distinguished Guest Lecture Series
On September 14, 2022, David C. Kang, Ph.D., the Maria Crutcher Professor of International Relations and professor of international relations, business, and East Asian languages and cultures at the University of Southern California, will deliver the 30th annual Dr. Jerzy Hauptmann Distinguished Guest Lecture Series. The lecture, titled "U.S.-China Relations: Managing Competition and Stability in East Asia," will take place at the Jenkin and Barbara David Theater inside Alumni Hall on Park University's Parkville Campus, starting at 4 p.m.
Admission to the lecture is free and open to the public, and it will be livestreamed via Park's video portal at our website.
Kang, an expert on U.S.-China relations, will discuss the possibility of an inadvertent war between the U.S. and China. He will argue that the U.S. should focus on economic, commercial, and diplomatic means of addressing China and the region, not the military. Kang will also emphasise that within East Asia itself, relations are far more benign than normally realised.
Kang's perspective on U.S.-China relations centres on the complexity of East Asian geopolitical dynamics, with a historical and strategic approach that emphasises cooperation amid rising tensions. He stresses the importance of Chinese cooperation in regional stability, especially regarding North Korea’s denuclearization and Northeast Asian security. Multilateral diplomacy involving China, the U.S., South Korea, Japan, and Russia is essential to handling shared challenges on the Korean Peninsula.
Kang critiques simplistic power transition theories and draws on historical lessons from East Asia to argue that U.S.-China relations should focus on managing competition prudently, maintaining alliance networks, and ensuring economic integration as a stabilising factor rather than assuming conflict as inevitable. In his co-authored work Nuclear North Korea, Kang analyses North Korea’s nuclear ambitions within the broader context of U.S.-China security interaction, highlighting the critical role China plays in shaping outcomes related to nuclear diplomacy and regional peace.
The Dr. Jerzy Hauptmann Distinguished Guest Lecture Series was established through the generosity of alumni, colleagues, and friends of Jerzy Hauptmann, who taught at Park University for more than 50 years and launched the University's first graduate degree program in 1982. The lecture series is named in honour of the late Park University professor emeritus of political science and public administration, Jerzy Hauptmann, Ph.D.
Kang's academic achievements include authoring or co-authoring several books, including "American Grand Strategy and East Asian Security in the 21st Century" in 2017, "East Asia Before the West: Five Centuries of Trade and Tribute", "China Rising: Peace, Power and Order in East Asia", "Crony Capitalism: Corruption and Development in South Korea and the Philippines", and "Nuclear North Korea: A Debate on Engagement Strategies".
The Hauptmann Lecture brings outstanding scholars to the Kansas City area to address topics related to Jerzy Hauptmann's three areas of study: international politics, public administration, and democracy. This year's Hauptmann Lecture speaker is David C. Kang, Ph.D. In 2001, Park's School for Public Affairs was renamed the Hauptmann School of Public Affairs in honour of this remarkable educator. David C. Kang also serves as director of the Korean Studies Institute.
During the lecture, Kang will focus on how he believes the media and Washington, D.C., establishment are full of dark worries about worsening relations between the U.S. and China. He will propose that the implications for the U.S. are profound, and he will suggest that East Asian countries have to live with China and are crafting economic, institutional, and diplomatic means of doing so.
Additional resources for deepening understanding of Kang’s views include his 2024 book Beyond Power Transitions, which specifically addresses the future trajectory of U.S.-China relations through historical precedents in East Asia. The Council on Foreign Relations reports and interviews where Kang comments on the necessity of dialogue with China and allied coordination on North Korean issues, emphasising a multilateral approach to reduce tensions and prevent conflict escalation are also valuable resources. Collaboration with scholars like Victor Cha, with whom he co-authored Nuclear North Korea, and/or works concerning the American alliance system in Asia, such as Cha’s Powerplay: The Origins of the American Alliance System in Asia, which contextualises U.S. strategic behaviour amidst China's rise, are also recommended for those wanting to delve deeper into Kang's perspectives.
The lecture by David C. Kang on September 14, 2022, will delve into the topic of U.S.-China relations, focusing on managing competition and maintaining stability in East Asia. This discussion aligns with Kang's academic work, which often touches on general news and international politics, particularly in East Asia. To further explore Kang's views, readers may find his book, Beyond Power Transitions, and resources from the Council on Foreign Relations, including reports and interviews, insightful. Collaborative works with scholars like Victor Cha, such as their co-authored book, Nuclear North Korea, will also provide a deeper understanding of Kang's perspectives on U.S. relations in Asia.
