This two-day conference is presented by the Top University Program, National Cheng Chi University, Taiwan, and co-sponsored by the Orfalea Center for Global and International Studies, the Center for Taiwan Studies at UCSB, and the Department of Political Science.

Power in a Changing World Economy:  Lessons from Emerging Asia

Where:  Mosher Alumni House

When:  Friday, March 30, 2012 (9-5 pm) and Saturday, March 31, 2012 (9-1 pm)

 For all its ubiquity, the notion of power in the literature of international relations (IR) and International Political Economy (IPE) is remarkably underdeveloped in formal theoretical terms.  Though power analysis has generated much interest over the years, consensus remains elusive across a wide range of issues.  Indeed, scholars find it difficult to concur even on a basic definition of the term.  Contemporary scholarship assumes, implicitly if not explicitly, that power is a complex and multifaceted phenomenon, with implications and impacts that are highly contingent.  The goal of this conference is to improve understanding of the role of power in today’s changing world economy.  Aspects of the recent experience of emerging economies in East Asia (including China, Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, and the ten nations of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations) will be studied to better understand the nature and use of international economic power.  The speakers will address four clusters of questions concerning the meaning, sources, uses, and limits of power.  The conference will conclude with a general discussion of findings and implications.

The conference is by invitation only.  All graduate students are welcome, but must RSVP in advance.  There are a limited number of spaces available for members of the campus community.  To request an invitation, please contact Tabitha Benney at tbenney@umail.ucsb.edu. 

 Speakers: 

1. Jeffrey Chwieroth, London School of Economics
2. Eric Chiu, National Chung Hsing University, Taiwan
3. Benjamin J. Cohen, University of California, Santa Barbara
4. William W. Grimes, Boston University
5. C. Randall Henning, American University
6. Zheng-jia (Robert) Tsai, National Cheng-Chi University, Taiwan 
7. Chen-Don (Tony) Tso, National Taiwan University, Taiwan
8. Vincent Wei-cheng Wang, University of Richmond
9. Thomas Willett, Claremont Graduate University
10. Alan Hao Yang, National Cheng-Chi University , Taiwan
11. Kuo-Chun Yeh, National Chung-Cheng University, Taiwan

 Discussants:

1. Saori Katada, University of Southern California
2. Miles Kahler, University of California, San Diego
3. Tabitha Benney, University of California, Santa Barbara