The Vanguard Acts: A Focus on China at the Dawn of its “New Era”

At its 19th Congress of the Chinese Communist Party, held October 2017, the CPC leadership boldly announced the dawn of a “New Era”–a new stage in the history of the CPC and of China, as it moved forward, under the leadership of the CPC toward the ultimate mandatory goal of establishing a communist society in China.For most outsiders much of this is both new and daunting. It is sometimes difficult to separate the myths and stereotypes of the failed European Marxist-Leninist experiment from the construction of the Chinese (and to some extent the Vietnamese) Party-State. Yet such an understanding is now essential for anyone who is likely to deal with China or its enterprises in the emerging context of global trade, international relations, or in the cyber sphere.

We are fortunate to have been able to bring together a number of noted China experts to consider various aspects of the the changes that constitute the New Era reforms in China. Over the course of three days at Penn State we will sponsor three events under a uniting theme: The Vanguard Acts: A Focus on China at the Dawn of its “New Era:” (先锋行为:在“新时代”开始时关注中国) that combines a Roundtable, a Teach-In, and a Conference held over the course of three days. Description and links follow: