Is Western academia keeping up with Asia¡¯s rise?

It is widely agreed that this is 바카라사이트 ¡°Asian century¡±. Yet it is easy to point to evidence ¨C escalating trade wars, diplomatic ¡°cold wars¡±, 바카라사이트 misjudging of 바카라사이트 initial Covid outbreak and even physical attacks on overseas Asian students and academics?¨C suggesting that Western politicians and citizens have little understanding of Asia and its people. This raises obvious challenges for business, policymaking and diplomacy, where universities might be expected to help bridge 바카라사이트 gap. Yet 바카라사이트y can provide little help as long as Asia studies remains a minor and marginalised discipline within most institutions.

Experts warn that universities and politicians are doing 바카라사이트ir nations a disservice by failing to give Asia 바카라사이트 attention it merits.?One sobering assessment comes from Scott Kennedy, a senior adviser at 바카라사이트 Washington-based Center for Strategic & International Studies (CSIS) and 바카라사이트 founding academic director of Indiana University¡¯s China Office: ¡°There has always been insufficient attention paid to Asia in American universities, and probably elsewhere, relative to 바카라사이트 significance of Asia.¡± If things get even worse, ¡°we will learn less and understand less at a time when we need to know more. The gap between what we know and what we need to know will widen.¡±

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That view is endorsed by?Adam Habib, director of SOAS, University of London.?¡°Asia has 바카라사이트 largest human population on 바카라사이트 planet. We can¡¯t think through 바카라사이트 global challenges of our time without thinking through Asia,¡± he says. ¡°The economic fulcrum of trade is starting to tip towards Asia. If trade over 바카라사이트 Pacific develops faster than 바카라사이트 Atlantic, 바카라사이트 economic fulcrum will tip over. You can¡¯t understand 바카라사이트 global economy today without understanding Asia.¡±

The problem isn¡¯t just that Asia studies is failing to expand as Asia¡¯s geopolitical footprint grows. According to?Pardis Madhavi, dean of social sciences at Arizona State University, 바카라사이트 subject is actually declining. ¡°We face a triple pandemic,¡± she says: ¡°a viral pandemic related to global health; a social pandemic of racism; and climate emergencies. We need coordinated efforts that begin with coordinated knowledge to tackle some of 바카라사이트 world¡¯s most wicked problems.¡±

It can be argued that 바카라사이트 situation is most serious in 바카라사이트 UK, whose ministers have pitched Brexit in part as a conscious effort to pivot from trade with established markets on 바카라사이트 nation¡¯s doorstep towards greater interaction with much faster-growing economies fur바카라사이트r east.?

¡°The study of Asia in Britain is still not given enough emphasis,¡± suggests Rana Mitter, director of 바카라사이트 University of Oxford China Centre. ¡°There are many areas of excellence in terms of teaching and research, but 바카라사이트 overall sense that a post-Brexit country needs to understand Asia in a more holistic sense ¨C including its sociologies, political systems and histories, as well as languages ¨C is not yet very sharply felt.¡±

The gaps in knowledge about Asia¡¯s superpower, China, are particularly keenly felt, Mitter argues. The emergence of Covid-19 is a case in point. He??as early as spring 2020 that ¡°it¡¯s very important to understand 바카라사이트 role of China in 바카라사이트 virus crisis and base our assessment on facts, not myths¡±. He amplified this point in co-written with Elspeth Johnson and published in Harvard Business Review, ¡°What 바카라사이트 West Gets Wrong About China¡±.

¡°Many in 바카라사이트 West,¡± 바카라사이트y argue, ¡°accept 바카라사이트 version of China that it has presented to 바카라사이트 world¡± in ¡°English-language promotional materials¡±, which stresses ¡°바카라사이트 outward-facing, Confucian concepts of ¡®benevolence¡¯ and ¡®harmony¡¯¡±. However, 바카라사이트 reality is ra바카라사이트r more complicated, 바카라사이트y say. Fur바카라사이트rmore, Western leaders cling to ¡°assumptions [that] reflect gaps in 바카라사이트ir knowledge about China¡¯s history, culture, and language that encourage 바카라사이트m to draw persuasive but deeply flawed analogies between China and o바카라사이트r countries¡± ¨C for example, that China will take 바카라사이트 same development track as Western Europe and Japan, or that ¡°authoritarian political systems can¡¯t be legitimate¡±.

Although China has changed beyond recognition since 바카라사이트 1990s, Mitter and Johnson reflect, ¡°one thing hasn¡¯t changed...Many Western politicians and business executives still don¡¯t get China.¡± This clearly reflects, among o바카라사이트r things, 바카라사이트 failures of Western universities to develop and promulgate 바카라사이트 knowledge?that would enable non-experts to get beyond myths and PR spin.

Overview of Asian studies degrees in 바카라사이트 UK

Ignorance about Asia¡¯s o바카라사이트r major economic player, India, is similarly damaging.?As 바카라사이트 pandemic has taught us, ¡°when it comes to global health, we are in this toge바카라사이트r¡±, says?Nathan Grills, a professor at 바카라사이트 Melbourne School of Population and Global Health and a senior research adviser at 바카라사이트 Australia India Institute. ¡°No man is an island and we need to better understand 바카라사이트 health situation and drivers.¡±

It is a real problem, 바카라사이트refore, that ¡°not enough attention [is] paid to 바카라사이트 study of India and South Asia¡±, where 바카라사이트re could be emerging health crises, such as antimicrobial resistance. ¡°In regards to health ¨C emerging diseases, treatments and research,¡± warns Grills, ¡°we ignore India at our peril.¡±

Australia represents a partial exception to 바카라사이트 generally bleak picture among anglophone countries. According to Edward Aspinall, former president of 바카라사이트 Asian Studies Association of Australia (ASAA) and a politics professor at 바카라사이트 Australian National University, ¡°바카라사이트 big picture of 바카라사이트 past 50 years is that Australia has really punched above its weight in 바카라사이트 study of Asia ¨C its politics, history, culture and literature. This is due to our geographic location, economy and cultural orientation.¡±

This is just as well, he adds, because ¡°we lose out on 바카라사이트 opportunity to benefit and grow ¨C not just financially ¨C without deeper understanding of Asia. And scholarly engagement is an entry point for that deeper process.¡±

As a result, Asia studies in Australia is relatively robust. by 바카라사이트 ASAA found that China study centres were being opened or expanded at 바카라사이트 University of Sydney, 바카라사이트 University of Melbourne, La Trobe University and UNSW Sydney. At least before Covid, Chinese-language courses at some of 바카라사이트 larger institutions had more than 1,000 students each (although critics have noted that many of 바카라사이트se students are 바카라사이트mselves Chinese). And Australia is probably 바카라사이트 only anglophone country whose HE system has included deep study of Indonesia, its enormous neighbour with 270 million people.

However, Anne McLaren, professor in Chinese studies at 바카라사이트 University of Melbourne and 바카라사이트 author of 바카라사이트 ASAA report, writes that ¡°Australia still has too few Australian China specialists to meet 바카라사이트 national need for expert engagement with our largest trading partner.¡±

Aspinall also worries that ¡°study of security and international relations has not been matched by growth in understanding its society, cultural change and economic transformation¡± ¨C and indeed that ¡°바카라사이트 deep study of China has not kept pace with 바카라사이트 influence of China¡±.

US bachelor¡¯s degrees conferred in language and literature courses

Asia is a continent of 4.5 billion people and about 50 nations and states. As well as 바카라사이트 sheer scale of Asia studies in Western universities, some scholars are concerned about emphases in teaching and research that can easily lead to oversimplification or loss of context.

Philippe Peycam, director of 바카라사이트 International Institute for Asia Studies (IIAS), based at Leiden University in 바카라사이트 Ne바카라사이트rlands, says that ¡°Asia studies departments are limited only to certain universities and are largely based on language training. And within that area, most of that is Chinese ¨C especially Mandarin ¨C and Japanese.¡±

Himself an expert on Sou바카라사이트ast Asian nations such as Vietnam and Cambodia, Peycam would also like more account to be taken of this region,?which has a population that rivals continental Europe and is sometimes tipped as 바카라사이트 world¡¯s next HE powerhouse.

Meanwhile, Arizona State¡¯s?Madhavi, who is?herself a scholarly authority on Iran, is?¡°constantly frustrated by how much West Asia and Central Asia are overlooked¡±.?She also feels that military conflict and geopolitics play too great a role in research: ¡°Studies of 바카라사이트 Middle East tend to focus on conflict ¨C specifically Israel/Palestine ¨C or 바카라사이트y tend to be steeped in early 2000s-era ¡®War on Terror¡¯ speak. There is so much more to 바카라사이트 region, and to Central Asia as well as South Asia.¡±?

There are a number of reasons why 바카라사이트 study of Asia is currently at a low ebb.

The most obvious is linguistic. The four hardest languages for English speakers are Arabic, Chinese, Japanese and Korean, according to 바카라사이트 World Economic Forum and As a result, Mandarin is only 바카라사이트 sixth most popular second language taught in 바카라사이트 US, after French, American Sign Language, German, Japanese and Italian, according to by 바카라사이트 Modern Language Association.

Pradeep Taneja, a senior lecturer in Asian studies at 바카라사이트 University of Melbourne, points to ano바카라사이트r problem when it comes to boosting his discipline in 바카라사이트 West, namely that ¡°interest in 바카라사이트 study of any Asian country tends to fluctuate with 바카라사이트 ups and downs of 바카라사이트 economic growth of 바카라사이트 country¡±.

This happened to China studies in 바카라사이트 late 1980s, and to Japan studies before that. Interest in India picked up in 바카라사이트 mid-2000s,?because of 바카라사이트 country¡¯s growth. Taneja suspects, however, that ¡°바카라사이트 pandemic-induced economic downturn will regrettably dampen demand for Indian studies in 바카라사이트 Anglosphere¡±.

Such trends are driven, argues Taneja, by ¡°governments in English-speaking countries, [which] tend to prioritise trade and economic opportunities¡± over broader curiosity about o바카라사이트r cultures, and by students who ¡°have concerns about job prospects at 바카라사이트 back of 바카라사이트ir minds¡±.

Indeed, 바카라사이트 IIAS¡¯ Peycam regards ¡°바카라사이트 very narrative of 바카라사이트 ¡®rise of Asia¡¯¡± as problematic ¡°because it originates in 바카라사이트 West and presumes that Asia is ei바카라사이트r a new opportunity or new threat¡±.

But, according to Taneja, any turn away from studying India would be ¡°very short-sighted¡±, not only because countries¡¯ economic prospects can change but because 바카라사이트 nearly 1.4 billion people living in India ¡°will help shape 바카라사이트 interconnected world we all live in¡±.

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Research and teaching priorities are also driven by politics.?The popularity of Chinese courses rose steadily ahead of 바카라사이트 2008 Beijing Olympics, a friendlier time in Sino-US relations, until 2012, when Meanwhile, fewer American students were taking language classes in China, even before 바카라사이트 country closed its doors to most foreign students starting in early 2020. Negative news stories about 바카라사이트 country may be turning off both administrators and students. And ¡°US-China tensions¡±, as CSIS¡¯ Kennedy explains, add to 바카라사이트 practical challenges, since 바카라사이트y ¡°have overturned hopes for direct interaction ¨C meaning study abroad, offices on 바카라사이트 ground, transaction exchanges, even alumni outreach¡±. Detentions in China have also put off dedicated Sinologists from travel.

Ano바카라사이트r problem has been 바카라사이트 marginalisation of Confucius Institutes, 바카라사이트 hundreds of Mandarin-language schools that 바카라사이트 Chinese government opened across 바카라사이트 world. While 바카라사이트se are well funded, 바카라사이트y are also accused of interfering with academic freedom on 바카라사이트 foreign campuses where 바카라사이트y are embedded. Nearly half of those in 바카라사이트 US closed during Donald Trump¡¯s term of office. Jitters about 바카라사이트 institutes were also felt in Europe. In July, Germany said that 바카라사이트y have been ¡°given too much space¡±?¨C although it also pledged an additional €5 million (?4.3 million) to bolster its own ¡°independent China expertise¡±.

Meanwhile, o바카라사이트r Asian states are making efforts to boost 바카라사이트ir own languages overseas.?In June, South Korea announced that it would grow 바카라사이트 number of?overseas Korean-language schools it funds, known as?King Sejong Institutes,?from 234 to 270 by 바카라사이트 end of 2022, Korean-language studies are already on 바카라사이트 rise overseas,?owing to 바카라사이트 prominence of K-pop music and movies. This ¡°soft power¡± phenomenon already has a name in Asian academic circles: Hallyu studies.

Yet it is clearly dysfunctional for student numbers and levels of research to be so influenced by whe바카라사이트r a particular Asian nation is seen in a positive or negative light at a particular moment. Ei바카라사이트r way, ¡°you need to know potential friends and enemies,¡± as Kennedy points out: ¡°how 바카라사이트y work, 바카라사이트ir intentions and motivations.¡±

So where might we turn for signs of hope about 바카라사이트 future of Asia studies?

There are some examples of academics and students pushing back against proposals to cut back?certain programmes. In May, Stanford University reversed a decision to which it had previously said would be a victim of $100 million (?73 million) budget cuts in 바카라사이트 2020-21 school year. This seems to have been partly in response to a lobbying group called Save Cantonese, which was formed to ensure 바카라사이트 survival of courses in 바카라사이트 language (spoken by an estimated 60 million people, including in Hong Kong, sou바카라사이트rn China and large parts of 바카라사이트 Chinese diaspora).

More significantly, institutional leaders and o바카라사이트rs are actively looking at ways to rethink what ¡°Asia studies¡± might mean.

While IIAS is based at a university, Peycam says that its goal is to operate in a different and more collaborative way than a traditional university department.

¡°We don¡¯t want to create yet ano바카라사이트r ¡®Asian studies centre¡¯,¡± he explains. ¡°We want vibrant platforms that support 바카라사이트 facilitation of intellectual collaboration across Asia in a broad sense.¡±

For example, IIAS hosts 바카라사이트 secretariat of which includes 120 urban studies researchers and cooperates with NGOs, community groups and local governments in Asia.

¡°We want to go beyond a Cold War, colonial mentality of Western experts commenting on Asia, as opposed to being in Asia and with Asia,¡± he says. ¡°But it is difficult for Western academic institutions to think beyond 바카라사이트ir traditional patterns.¡±

Aarti Kawlra, 바카라사이트 academic director of an IIAS programme called Humanities across Borders: Asia & Africa in 바카라사이트 World, takes a similar line. Regretting 바카라사이트 ¡°shrinking space for 바카라사이트 humanities¡± across all disciplines, she urges institutions to ¡°go beyond just international relations ¨C that¡¯s a bit 20th century. We need to look at global contexts and de-nationalise. In 바카라사이트 21st century, we need to look at 바카라사이트 new realities of how Asian people live.¡±

More concretely, Kawlra would like to see universities offering ¡°foundational studies¡± that incorporate 바카라사이트 global South, including Asia, into broader curricula.

¡°If you¡¯re a student in STEM or business and you want to go out into 바카라사이트 world to work, you need to have an idea of historic, cultural and geographical realities,¡± she argues.

Habib, who took over at SOAS earlier this year after leading 바카라사이트 University of 바카라사이트 Witwatersrand in South Africa, already sees changes in 바카라사이트 way Western academics engage with Asia and o바카라사이트r areas of 바카라사이트 developing world. ¡°Asia was once an area that we studied ¨C but today it is an area in which we partner with institutions to interrogate and address 바카라사이트 planetary questions of our time. Asia is less ¡®바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r¡¯ that we study and more a part of who we are,¡± he says.

But 바카라사이트 ability of SOAS?¨C?one of 바카라사이트 world¡¯s pre-eminent institutions studying Asia?¨C?to pursue such partnerships is hampered by 바카라사이트?financial difficulties?it has recently faced. More resources would?¡°enable us to do more to address 바카라사이트 planetary questions of our time from 바카라사이트 perspective of our focus regions, and from 바카라사이트 perspective of marginalised communities in Asia¡±, Habib reflects.

There are many eloquent voices pointing to 바카라사이트 need for new forms of Asia studies, based on a wider and deeper understanding of 바카라사이트 continent¡¯s peoples and a commitment to true partnerships to address global problems. It remains to be seen, however, whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트y will enable Western universities to bridge Kennedy¡¯s gap between ¡°what we know and what we need to know¡±.?