The Empire Strikes Back – Revisited
3th NGIZ-IIAS lecture
by prof. dr Stefan R. Landsberger
18 January 2006
Clingendael Institute
Clingendael 7, The Hague
These days we are confronted with a China that is engaged in a "peaceful rise", thereby becoming a more prominent presence in our lives. Although the country was shunned by the international community after the Tian'anmen Incident in 1989, it has been rehabilitated spectacularly over the past fifteen years. China's accession to the World Trade Organisation (2001) and the granting of the Olympic Games in 2008 can be considered as the most striking examples of this process of rehabilitation. China's new prestige in the world these days is seen - both within the country and abroad - rather in terms of admiration and anticipation, although suspicion and resentment are becoming more noticeable.
China's growing economic importance fuels a desire to have a greater influence on international political developments. The People's Republic unmistakenly has rid itself of an inferiority complex that resulted from the "Century of Humiliation" and has adopted a more assertive international posture. Nonetheless, it will take considerable efforts before the country will be able to realise its ambitions to play a more significant role in the international arena.
China, then, has become an entity to be reckoned with. But what does the country actually stand for?
Prof. dr. Stefan R. Landsberger, Olfert Dapper Professor of Contemporary Chinese Culture at the University of Amsterdam and Lecturer in Contemporary Chinese History at the University of Leiden, has agreed to give a lecture at this occasion.
The lecture will be held in English and is hosted at the Clingendael Institute. Please find the route description below.
Arrival at 16.30 hrs, lecture and discussion from 17.00 - 18.30 hrs.
Clingendael: how to get there
The Clingendael Institute is established in the Clingendael house, located in the park of the same name in The Hague. (Part of the park is also in Wassenaar)
Address: Clingendael 7
By train and bus
From Hollands Spoor Station and from Central Station 18 bus Terminus Clingendael
By car
A44 from Amsterdam and Leiden: turn right at second set of traffic lights in The Hague
(van Alkemadelaan) right again at next set of lights (Wassenaarseweg), second road on the
left (through the park gates); please park outside Park Clingendael on the Wassenaarseweg.
El9 from Amsterdam Rotterdam and Utrecht: turn right at first set of traffic lights in
The Hague (Benoordenhoutseweg) left at next set of lights (van Alkemadelaan), right at
next set of lights (Wassenaarseweg), second road on the left (through the park gates);
please park outside Park Clingendael. Note that from 1-10-1999 the municipality introduced
paid parking on the Wassenaarseweg and neighbouring streets (09.00-17.00 hrs). You can park free of charge on the Ruychrocklaan in The Hague.