On May 29, 2021, an academic workshop on Theoretical and Practical Research on Political Development, organized by Fudan Institute for Advanced Studies in Social Sciences (Fudan IAS) and the Center for the Study of Contemporary China of Fudan University, was held in the conference room 2801 of Guanghua Building. This workshop was also part of the 2022 Fudan Anniversary Presentation Activities.
Prof. Sujian Guo, Dean and Distinguished Professor of Fudan IAS, chaired the workshop. He first pointed out that annual thesis is the main form of academic activities organized by institutes for advanced study in social sciences around the world, which focuses on fundamental theoretical issues, cutting-edge topics, major theoretical and practical issues in human society. By organizing scholars to carry out interdisciplinary research, annual thesis project aims to promote, lead and shape the communication and development of major academic topics in social sciences. On the occasion of the 116th anniversary of Fudan University, this workshop also serves as a presentation of the research achievement of Fudan IAS 2020 Annual Thesis. The framework of 2020 Annual Thesis Political Development is divided into two main parts: “Theory and Intellectual Tradition of Political Development” and “China's Political Development Practice and Reform & Innovation”. Academic discussions and exchanges on the fundamental theories and practical innovations of political development in transitional China are being carried out based on fifteen important aspects or dimensions and their interrelationships with political development, e.g., comparative politics, modernization theory, state and social value goals, traditional cultural values, western cultural values, different modes of human civilization, modern state theory, political party leadership, national governance capacity, political participation representation, political consultation, political culture, economic development, social structural changes, and grass-roots democracy.
Prof. Guo then made a presentation on Comparative Politics Methods and Political Development. Prof. Su Gu spoke on State and Social Value Goals and Political Development. Prof. Donghang He talked on The Complexity of Political Development and the Compound Path of Modern State Building.
Prof. Guodong Sun made a presentation entitled The Logic of Political Development in the Perspective of “Democratic Sociology”: an Analysis Based on the Evolution of Modernization Theory. Prof. Xi Lin talked on Western Cultural Values and Political Development.
Dr. Chunman Zhang made a speech entitled Political Party Leadership and Political Development. Assoc. Prof. Zhongyuan Wang spoke on Political Participation Representation and Political Development.
Asso. Prof. Qingjie Zeng from School of International Relations & Public Affairs at Fudan University gave a speech on National Governance Capacity and Political Development. Dr. Xuan Qin from Fudan IAS spoke on Political Consultation and Political Development.
Asso. Prof. Daolei Song from School of Marxism at Fudan University made a presentation on Economic Development and Political Development. Dr. Yanfeng Gu from Fudan IAS spoke on Social Structural Change and Political Development.
After the presentations in the morning and afternoon sessions, the workshop also set up a Q&A and discussion session respectively, in which the scholars had an in-depth discussion regarding political development. Prof. Guo thanked the scholars for their participation and the workshop ended with a round of applause.