Hamilton in the News

Cheng Li, professor of government and Woodrow Wilson fellow was quoted in an article that focused on Hu Jintao who will take over as president in March.

This article quoted Cheng Li, China expert and government professor, and focused on Hu Jintao who was the only one of China's top seven leaders returned to office at the Communist Party's 16th Congress in Beijing.

This article evaluated Jiang's achievements and failures during his 13 years governing China. Cheng Li, professor of government and Woodrow Wilson Fellow, said "Jiang's weakness is his strength. He relied on think tanks. He talks to other people." Jiang’s achievements included kept the relationship relatively steady through many difficult incidents with the U.S., raised China international stature by joining the WTO, and won the right to host the 2008 Olympics. However, Jiang’s failures included corruption, high unemployment rate and increased disparity between rich and poor.

The 16th Party Congress meeting in Beijing was a significant event for the future of China. Top leaders are expected to retire and a group of new leaders are anticipated to emerge. How far will China move from rule by a main figure? Cheng Li, professor of government and Woodrow Wilson Fellow, said, "The ramifications go beyond a change of guard. This is the major test to see whether China can move toward a peaceful, orderly, institutionalized form of government."

On the last day of China’s 16th Party Congress meeting more than 2,000 delegates elected 198 full and 158 alternate members, and about 180 of whom were new faces. Those 356 members will select top leaders for the next five years. According to two congress delegates, Hu Jintao was the top vote getter, but it was unclear how many votes he collected. Li said that "I would not underestimate him (Hu). Shanghai Gang controls the Political Bureau, but Hu Jintao’s people are the largest group in the Central Committee. Hu may be more powerful than he appears."

Cheng Li, China expert and professor of government, was interviewed about the secrecy involved in China's Communist Party Congress and who will occupy the country's top leadership jobs.  More...

Hamilton College Professor of Africana Studies and French Tracy Sharpley-Whiting was interviewed for a Toronto Star article about racial profiling in popular movies.

Cheng Li, professor of government and Woodrow Wilson fellow, is quoted in the article which focuses on expected leadership changes in China's ruling party.

Philip Klinkner, James S. Sherman Associate Professor of Government was interviewed about Senator Clinton's role in the Democratic party.

This article, which quotes Cheng Li, China expert and professor of government, focused on the Communist Party meeting, discussed a likely leadership change, as well as a set of modernised ideas that could profoundly alter the party's nature and mission.