The Problem of China in the British Foreign Office Mind

In this seminar, Oliver Yule-Smith will present a chapter of his recently published book, The Problem of China in the British Foreign Office Mind: Understanding a Rising Superpower, 1922–1985. He will explain how a distinct cadre of British China officials emerged in the British Foreign Office in the 1920s and then show how these officials were guided by a strategic, long-term view of what Britain should try to achieve in its relations with China. Far from the idea of a "rising China" being a concept that emerged in the 1980s, 1990s, or 2000s, this small group of experts were exploring what China's return to power would mean for both Britain and the wider international order as early as the 1920s. 

Admittance is on a first come–first served basis. Tea and Coffee Provided.