Across the Pacific: The United States and China in Historical Perspective

Abstract of Lecture

As tensions rise between the United States and China in the 2020s, a historical perspective on American trans-Pacific relations is invaluable. This talk will touch upon early American involvement in the China trade, then addressing the rise of imperialism in Asia, the political transformations of China, the watershed of World War II, the twin challenges of decolonization and the Cold War, and increasing economic integration. It will explore how the United States and China have navigated disagreements and conflicts in the past, offering valuable context for understanding the present challenges.

Bio Sketch

Professor Oyen teaches courses on U.S. History and U.S. Diplomatic History. She specializes in the history of Sino-American relations, focusing her research on the role of migrants, transnational networks, and nongovernmental organizations in bilateral relations in the twentieth century. Before coming to UMBC, she taught for two years at the Johns Hopkins University-Nanjing University Center for Chinese and American Studies. Her book, The Diplomacy of Migration: Transnational Lives and the Making of U.S.-Chinese Relations in the Cold War, was published by Cornell University Press in 2015.  She has published articles in Diplomatic History, Journal of Cold War Studies, and Modern Asian Studies.  Prof. Oyen is currently at work on a project involving Jewish refugees in WWII Shanghai.

When and Where

Tuesday, Nov. 14, 2023, 8.15 am, HS 1 (Steintor Campus)

Everyone is welcome to attend!

Organized by

PD Dr. Julia Nitz & Laura-Isabella Heitz