Book Club: China's Western Horizon

Description

Under the ambitious leadership of President Xi Jinping, China is zealously transforming its wealth and economic power into potent tools of global political influence. But China's foreign policy initiatives, even the vaunted "Belt and Road," will be shaped and redefined as they confront the ground realities of local and regional politics outside China. In China's Western Horizon, Daniel S. Markey, a scholar of international relations and former member of the U.S. State Department's policy planning staff, previews how China's efforts are likely to play out across the swath of Eurasia that includes South Asia, Central Asia, and the Middle East.

Over the next four months, Markey will engage in a deep discussion related to these issues. His recent book will be used as a framework, but attendees will connect topics from the book with articles, videos, online resources, and discussion with other Johns Hopkins faculty and members of this virtual book club. During the Zoom-based seminars, attendees will be encouraged to share their perspectives, drawing from their own experience and reading.

Meeting schedule:

• Sept. 2, 5 p.m. – South Asia
• Sept. 30, 5 p.m. – Central Asia
• Oct. 21, 5 p.m. – Middle East
• Nov. 18, 5 p.m. – Conclusion

To get the most out of this experience, each member of the book club will be expected to read a chapter from China's Western Horizon in preparation for each of the live Zoom discussion groups, which will be facilitated by Markey and Hasta Colman, a PhD student from the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies. Club members will also be encouraged to participate in online discussions between the live Zoom sessions using a web-based platform built for the club. Hopkins at Home will provide excerpts from Markey's book, and full copies are readily available on Amazon.com, at local libraries, or the Johns Hopkins Library.