Cheng Li, William R. Kenan Jr. Professor of Government, gave a lecture titled "Education, Art, and Politics: American Influence on China's Peaceful Evolution," as one of the activities planned for Hamilton's presidential inauguration. Li's lecture was also part of the Faculty Lecture Series sponsored by the office of the Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of the Faculty.
During his talk Li explored the influence that American culture has had on modern Chinese lifestyles and ways of thinking. His lecture showed several pieces of modern Chinese art with clear depictions of American values and ideas.
Another portion of Li's lecture was devoted to the significance of Chinese students going abroad to study at European and American universities. He illustrated his talk with charts to show the new working class arising in China as a result of the extent of educational and cultural exchange. He said, "Cultural isolation is unwise," and concluded that he is "confident that educational exchange will promote peace."
Li's lecture was given to an audience made up of faculty, students, staff and alumni. Next month he will deliver a lecture based on his on-going research at Fudan University in Shanghai, China. This will be part of an international conference Li is co-organizing to examine 25 years of educational exchange.
