Our general understanding of Chinese domestic policy stems heavily from rhetoric from both sides/perspectives — the Chinese side and the western world.

Come join us to obtain a better understanding of Chinese domestic policy and its impact on the life of an “average” Chinese citizen.

Dr. Emile Dirks, PhD is a postdoctoral fellow at the Citizen Lab, Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy, University of Toronto, He has spent most of his career experiencing and examining life in China.

During this discussion Dr. Dirks will cover topics such as:

• China’s current domestic policy strategy and how much it has changed since the Mao era. How western influence is impacting its direction both positively and negatively
• What approach is China trying to adopt as it relates to its citizens. How do current policies affect the daily lives of the Chinese and how does the State exercise its control over its citizens in order to implement its policies including:
  • Economic control
  • Control of personal rights and freedoms
  • Use of technologies to support domestic policy
  • Privacy and surveillance
• Are Chinese citizens willing to make some of these sacrifices for the success of the country and why

Dr. Dirks has been a visiting research scholar at Yunnan University’s School of Public Administration and Research Associate, in Kunming, Yunnan China. He has been a research associate at the London School of Economics and Political Science having conducted research on Chinese government policies on illicit drug economies and drug harm reduction. His many years of researching extrajudicial detention, state surveillance and drug policy in contemporary China culminated with his recent PhD from the University of Toronto’s Department of Political Science.

He has written extensively on Chinese relations and topical issues in major publications such as the Globe and Mail.

The registration deadline is 5pm on Sunday November 13th.

One day before the event, Zoom details will be sent to those who have registered. The Zoom session will open up at 9:30AM to allow some time to chat before the session. Please advise the organizer if you registered but are then unable to attend the session.

You can find a document on how to use Zoom here.

Event registration form