U.S. - China relations will be the focus of Park University's upcoming Hauptmann Lecture.
David C. Kang, a distinguished professor of international relations, will be delivering a lecture on U.S.-China relations at Park University's flagship Parkville Campus. The event, part of the 30th annual Dr. Jerzy Hauptmann Distinguished Guest Lecture Series, is set to take place on September 14, 2022, at 4 p.m. in the Jenkin and Barbara David Theater inside Alumni Hall.
The lecture, titled "U.S. - China Relations in an Increasingly Tense World", will be livestreamed via Park's video portal at our website/hauptmannlecture. Admission to the lecture is free and open to the public.
Kang, 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, brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the table. He earned his doctorate degree in political science from the University of California, Berkeley and a Bachelor of Arts degree in international relations and anthropology from Stanford University.
Kang's scholarship offers a nuanced perspective on U.S.-China relations, emphasizing that conflict, including war, is not inevitable and can be managed through understanding East Asian history and power dynamics. His work highlights the complex interplay of power transitions, alliance systems, and regional stability, offering a less alarmist perspective on potential U.S.-China conflict.
Kang's views on the media and Washington, D.C., establishment's concerns about worsening relations between the U.S. and China and the possibility of an inadvertent war will be a key focus during the lecture. He believes that much of the discussion about U.S.-China relations ignores what is actually happening in the region.
In his book, "Beyond Power Transitions: The Lessons of East Asian History and the Future of U.S.-China Relations" (2024), Kang argues that typical power transition theories predicting inevitable conflict as China rises do not fully capture East Asian historical realities. Instead, he emphasizes historical lessons where power shifts did not always lead to war, suggesting a framework for peaceful coexistence and pragmatic engagement with China.
The Hauptmann Lecture brings outstanding scholars to the Kansas City area to address topics related to Hauptmann's three areas of study: international politics, public administration, and democracy. Jerzy Hauptmann, the lecture series' namesake, taught at Park for more than 50 years and launched the University's first graduate degree program in 1982. The series was established in 2001, through the generosity of alumni, colleagues, and friends of Hauptmann.
Don't miss this opportunity to hear from one of the leading voices in U.S.-China relations. For more information, visit our website or contact the Park University School of Public Affairs.
- The lecture, titled "U.S. - China Relations in an Increasingly Tense World", falls under the category of general-news and politics, as it discusses the current state and potential future of relations between the U.S. and China.
- David C. Kang, a distinguished professor delivering the lecture, offers insights on U.S.-China relations that extend beyond power transition theories, presenting a perspective that can be classified under political studies, specifically focusing on international relations.
