China’s rise in the last three decades has reshaped the global economy and politics. For activists and movements committed to social and environment justice, what are the implications for our struggles for systemic change ? Join a unique six week free introductory webinar series to deepen your learning and inform your activism.

Date
10 November 2021 to 15 December 2021
Time
14:00 - 16:00 CET
Location
Zoom
Organizer(s)
Asia-Europe Peoples Forum

China today has the second largest global economy, ranks first in outward foreign direct investment, has become the world leader in AI and a driver of economic growth globally. Global capitalism today would not survive in its current form without China’s dynamism and pivotal role. As the country’s wealth and influence has grown, the Chinese state is looking to consolidate power at home, while also playing a more assertive role within Asia and globally. This has led its global geopolitical role to be constantly scrutinised by outside commentators, most often in relationship to US power.

Yet China, despite its size and power, remains a state, nation, country and people that is little understood and poorly portrayed – most of all by mainstream media and politicians outside China. This is often a projection of the fears, ideologies and political interests of those outsiders, rather than an honest examination of China’s unique history, politics and peoples and their own struggles for meaningful well paid work, good education, quality healthcare, a clean environment.

To confront some of the mythologies, and also to deepen understanding of the country, Transnational Institute together with gongchao.org, Made In China Journal, Lausan, Critical China Scholars and the Asia-Europe Peoples’ Forum is putting together a six webinar series on China. It is intended for activists anywhere in the world who want to have a basic understanding of China’s political and economic system, its global impact and role, and the best ways to engage with the Chinese state, its institutions and corporations, and its communities and grassroots groups. The six week series is intended as a first introductory edition, and would be concluded with a survey to decide on future webinar editions that could deepen learning, as well as possible spin-offs from the series including publications.

Timing

Every Wednesday, 2-4pm CET, 10 November to 15 December. This would be 8am in New York and 8pm in Beijing. The third session on 24 November however will be one hour later, at 3-5pm CET.