Researching Global China Conference – Innovation and Challenges

The Context and challenge

The internationalisation of Chinese firms, institutions, and people have a long and deep history, but has risen to prominence as China’s global role has intensified over the past two decades. Starting with piecemeal studies of the activities of certain Chinese actors in particular parts of the world, the research agenda has shifted to ‘Global China’ (Lee 2017, 2022) involving ‘understanding of China beyond the Chinese borders’ (Lee 2022: 313). This is a broad agenda whereby ‘The recent two-decade-long march of “global China” – manifested as outward flows of investment, loans, infrastructure, migrants, media, cultural programmes and international and civil society engagement – has left sweeping but variegated footprints in many parts of the world’ (Lee 2022: 313). The Global China framing situates the growing role of China within a dynamic, interconnected and variegated capitalist economy. It also unpicks the geoeconomics of these processes, in that China’s economic statecraft blurs the line between commercial and geopolitical imperatives. But it also reveals the multiple forms of capital and range of actors involved, many of which operate outside the ambit of the Chinese state.  Given this multiplicity and variegation, a Global China approach is necessarily relational in looking at both the contexts from which Chinese actors internationalise but also the political, economic and cultural contexts in which these actors are re-embedded outside China. These relations are multi-scalar and Chinese actors interact with local/regional/national actors and institutions in the host country as well as with diaspora(s) based there. Finally, understanding the power relations between actors and institutions is central to understanding Global China and counters one-sided accounts which assume Chinese actors are omnipotent.

Since the first wave of empirical studies of China’s internationalisation where much focused on interactions with African countries, there has been a wealth of studies across different continents utilising a broad range of methodologies. Yet there have been few reflections on the methodological challenges and opportunities of researching Global China. Heimer & Thogersen (2006) provided an introduction to conducting fieldwork in China, but the relationality of Global China requires more multi-sited and interdisciplinary approaches. Mawdsley et al.’s (2019) collection was a path-breaking foray into these methodological challenges but was focused on the more general phenomenon of South-South cooperation, even though China does feature heavily in the book. Studying Global China also produces methodological innovation involving research strategies that overcome the complexities of conducting fieldwork in diverse environments. The proposed Symposium will address both these innovations and challenges.

We welcome submissions in one or more of the following areas:

Methodological approaches

Researching the relationality of Global China can require multi-sited approaches that may be comparative. Single case studies deepen our understanding of embedded process but have been (mis)used by some media through a form of extrapolation which treats them as emblematic of all of China’s internationalisation. A related problem is Chinese exceptionalism which treats Chinese actors and their methods as uniquely ‘Chinese’ and so lying outside the purview of established analytical categories, often linked to pejorative takes on the negativity of these activities. Researching Global China should urge us to undertake comparative research, across disciplines, in multiple locations, and using a mix of methods. Possible topics include:

• Extended case study approaches
• Multi-sited methodologies
• Comparativism
• Interdisciplinary approaches
• Quantitative, qualitative and mixed methods

Data collection

Operationalising such methodologies requires creativity involving sensitivity to people, places and time. Accessing respondents is rarely easy but obtaining Chinese perspectives on Chinese globalisation has become more difficult over the past decade. So too has achieving access to secondary data produced in China which means that analysis is increasingly, and potentially problematically, based on evidence from outside China. But innovative methods including network analysis, process tracing, and discourse analysis can all shed light on the architecture and outcomes of China’s global activities. Possible topics include:

• Accessing actors and institutions
• Secondary data sources
• Social network analysis
• Process tracing
• Discourse analysis

Ethical issues

The study of Global China does not occur in an historical and political vacuum, and all social analysis is shaped by imperialism, patriarchy, class, and other divisive processes. The categories we deploy to position Global China are not fit for purpose as China is not obviously of the global North or global South. Histories of Chinese internationalisation are layered on one another so as scholars we need to appreciate these longer temporalities and the possible tensions they generate as ‘new’ Chinese actors seek footholds outside China. Inter-cultural relations with research subjects and/or within the teams that research them can be productive but can also generate tensions. Possible topics include:

• Intersectionality
• Postcoloniality
• Positionality
• Cross-cultural data collection
• Researching on and with Diasporas

How to submit?

Original papers should contribute to the understanding of methodology development (broadly defined) and should take inspiration from, but are not limited to, the highlighted themes above.

Submission Guidelines: 300 to 500-word abstracts should clearly outline the paper’s arguments and contribution to the Symposium’s objectives.

Please also include a brief bio (100 words maximum).

Submission via online form

Selected papers will be considered for publication in a special issue.

Limited funding will be available to support some participants.

Abstract Submission Deadline: Friday 08^th November 2024

Panel Selection: Thursday 14^th November 2024

Synopsis Deadline: 16^th December 2024

We look forward to your proposals and to a stimulating, interdisciplinary exchange of ideas.

For any questions, please contact REDEFINE@OPEN.AC.UK

Registration fees

In person

Academics – One day attendance - £30.00

Academics – Two Days - £55.00

Students – One day attendance - £10.00

Students – Two days - £15.00

Online

All attendees £5.00*

Please note this is online access to the KEYNOTE Speaker sessions ONLY!

Venue

The face-to-face component of the conference will be held on The Open University’s Walton Hall campus in Milton Keynes. It will begin around 09.30 am on Tuesday 25^th February and continue until Wednesday 26^th  at around 16:30 pm.  

The conference will be held in the HUB Theatre - please see signage for directions.

Accommodation

We encourage you to book a hotel in central Milton Keynes, since the university is some distance from restaurants and other amenities. The university is around 4 miles from central Milton Keynes.

Hotels close to the train station include:

• Travelodge At The Hub 312 Midsummer Boulevard, Milton Keynes MK9 2EA
• Jurys Inn Milton Keynes Midsummer Boulevard, Milton Keynes MK9 2HP
• Premier Inn Milton Keynes (Theatre District) 801 Avebury Blvd Milton Keynes MK9 3JT
• Easyhotel Milton Keynes Central Silbury Boulevard, Milton Keynes MK9 2AH

General

The Open University campus is a working campus with staff and students on site.. Please plan to bring anything you will need during the day with you as the nearest convenience store is about a mile from campus, and of course feel free to speak to organisers if you run into difficulties.

The Campus is a NON SMOKING campus, however there will be a designated area set for smokers.

Travel to Milton Keynes

By train/coach

Milton Keynes Central is the closest station to The Open University. It is a mainline station with regular trains to and from London Euston, Birmingham, the North West of England and North Wales. The X5 bus service running between Oxford and Cambridge also stops at Milton Keynes Central.

Getting from Milton Keynes Central to The Open University

The campus is approximately 4 miles from Milton Keynes Central station. Delegates will need to make their own way to and from the campus on both days of the conference. Taxis from Milton Keynes Central to the campus are the best option, especially if you can share. They typically cost under £10. The following taxi companies operate in Milton Keynes:

• Skyline: 01908 222111
• ASL Taxis: 07836 676055
• Raffles: 01908 222222

By car

Use the postcode MK7 6AA to locate the main campus. Please use the entrance from Brickhill Street V10 to enter the campus via St Michael’s Drive. The entrance from Groveway H9 via Walton Drive will be closed. See OU travel advice page for more information.

Parking

There is free parking available on campus, but you will need to book this in advance by emailing security@open.ac.uk (copying natasha.sanchez@open.ac.uk) with the following message: ‘Dear Open University Security, I will be attending the Researching Global China Conference in the Hub Theatre during the 25^th & 16^th February and write to request permission to park my vehicle on campus. My license plate number is _______________’.

By air

Airports in London, Birmingham and Manchester are well connected to train services that call at Milton Keynes Central.