Dr Paul Clifford, senior Fellow at Harvard Kennedy School, will discuss his recent book, ‘The China Paradox’, a study of how, against all odds, the ruling Communist Party boldly led economic reforms as the surest way to preserve their grip on power.

In this joint event with the Asia Scotland Institute Dr Clifford will be joined by Professor Aaron Moore, Handa Chair of Japanese-Chinese Relations, Asian Studies, The University of Edinburgh and Roddy Gow, Chair of the Asia Scotland Institute.

Dr Clifford’s book places the flourishing of China’s hybrid developmental model, with a private sector, in its historical context, shedding light on the legacies that thwarted earlier attempts at change and which today still threaten to undermine the progress made. The book analyses the recent growing friction with the world, fuelled by China’s human rights record and coupled with a perception that its technology progress threatens US global dominance.

The book has been described as “an outstanding primer on how to evaluate and how to interact with an entirely new, unprecedented set of challenges and opportunities.”

Registration and coffee from 6pm.

The events starts at 6.30pm and finishes with a networking drinks reception at 8pm.