Call for Papers for the UCLA China Undisciplined Conference.

The UCLA China Studies Graduate Students, in conjunction with the UCLA Center for Chinese Studies, present the fourth annual China Undisciplined Conference

Saturday, April 30, 2011
University of California, Los Angeles

The interdisciplinary China Studies colloquium at UCLA is pleased to announce its fourth annual China Undisciplined conference. The colloquium invites graduate students to submit paper proposals discussing current research in the field. Applicants are encouraged to submit abstracts of papers dealing with topics involving the crossing of disciplinary, temporal, national, cultural, social, and linguistic barriers in the imagination of China. We welcome creative, new approaches to the field of China studies. Papers that initiate interdisciplinary dialogues will be given particular consideration.

Abstracts should be no more than 250 words, and should be submitted electronically, along with the personal information listed below and a current CV. The deadline for submissions is March 15, 2011.

Please email your abstract as an attachment to: http://us.mc596.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=uclacscconference@gmail.com http://us.mc596.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=uclacscconference@gmail.com> . In your email, please also include your name, institutional affiliation, department, title of paper, and contact information.

Visiting Scholar Roundtable with Gao Fei

China, the United States, and Russia's Triangle Relationship in the Post-Cold War Era

Tuesday, February 8, 2011
3:00 - 4:00 PM
The Chung-wen Shih Conference Room
1957 E Street, NW, Suite 503

Dr. Gao Fei: Fulbright Scholar and Associate Professor, China Foreign Affairs University

This afternoon the Sigur Center hosted its second Visiting Scholar Roundtable of the semester. The roundtables are designed as a way for our visiting scholars to present their research in an informal and relaxed environment, while receiving valuable input from students and faculty interested in Asian Affairs. The Series will continue on March 22 with Yufang Fan and April 5 with Masaki Hirata.

Gao Fei outlined three major changes in the triangle relationship between China, the US, and Russia since the Cold War: 1) The countries' relationships are unbalanced and asymmetrical, 2) The triangle relationship no longer has strategic global implications, but is still important in certain “problem areas,” 3) The relationships have become “Non-confrontational” and “Non – alliance.” These changes highlight the fact that the triangle relationship between China, the US, and Russia is no-longer a central framework for international relations but still provides a good method for analyzing the relationships between these three countries.

Gao Fei defined several layers of the triangle relationship, emphasizing that each layer sheds light on a different aspect of the triangle relationship. For example, he argues that economic relations are largely bi-lateral. This is clear in the cases of US – China trade, and the Russia-China Oil Pipeline. In terms of military, Gao Fei believes that the US and Russia are still stronger than China. China’s military expenditure is 10 times what it was 20 years ago, but the country’s GDP has grown at almost the same rate, so the percentage of military spending has actually remained static. Finally, in terms of politics, Gao Fei views the US as the only current super power. He believes that Russia is still recovering and China is still rising, therefore the US often has more responsibility in the political sphere.

Sino-Russia relations have gradually become friendlier with the passing of several agreements since 1992. Sino-US relations are largely interdependent, causing both sides to expect long term stable relations even though they still lack mutual trust. Gao Fei described President Hu’s visit to the US and President Obama’s visit to Moscow as “resetting” relations – the leaders have addressed their problems and agreed to continue working. With confidence, Gao Fei expressed his belief that there are no problems within the China, US, Russia triangle that cannot be overcome.

Elliott School’s International Affairs Review (IAR)

Elliott School’s International Affairs Review (IAR)

Specifically for MA candidates with Asia interest/expertise.

From U.S.-China relations to the international women’s movement to the enlargement of the United Nations Security Council, the Elliott School’s International Affairs Review (IAR) provides a unique forum for the policy perspective of tomorrow’s leaders on critical issues facing the world today.

IAR is now celebrating its 18th year in print and 3rd year on the web. We are currently looking for quick witted, entrepreneurial and intellectually curious George Washington graduates to join our team. Things happen quickly in the global policy world and we need enthusiastic team players to provide timely, analytical commentary on current political debates in the field of international affairs.

We are looking for graduate students for the following positions:
- Writers: particularly in the areas of international trade, global communication, science and technology policy, Africa and multilateral affairs
- Web Editors
- Web Publishers
- Print Editors
- Fact-checkers
- Photo editors
- Communications / Public Relations / Business Development

If you’re interested in being part of our team, please apply online, join us for happy hour on Friday, February 11 from 5:30 pm at the Big Hunt (1345 Connecticut Avenue) or come to our monthly meeting, held the last Thursday of the month from 8-9pm (in the area outside of room 303e at the Elliott School Building – 1957 E Street, NW).

Please feel free to contact us directly at iar@gwu.edu or learn more about us at http://www.iar-gwu.org/

Don’t forget to become our fan on Facebook, follow us on Twitter and subscribe to our weekly newsletter.

Who We Are

IAR is a graduate student-run publication of The George Washington University's Elliott School of International Affairs in Washington, D.C. While the staff -- editors and web writers -- are all students at the Elliott School, we do allow, and encourage, submissions from graduate students across the United States and around the world.

--
Alicia van der Veen
Masters Candidate, International Affairs
Elliott School of International Affairs
The George Washington University
avanderv@gwmail.gwu.edu

Tourism, Heritage, and Sacred Space in China with Bob Shepherd

Monday, February 7, 2011
12:30 - 1:45 PM
The Elliott School of International Affairs
1957 E Street, NW, Room 505

Today, we heard from Professor Bob Shepherd as part of the Sigur Center's new faculty lecture series. Sigur Center Director Shawn McHale opened the talk with an introduction explaining the goal of showcasing our own faculty, especially those whose research the Sigur Center has supported, in addition to outside speakers. The Sigur Center plans to continue the faculty lecture series throughout the spring semester, with upcoming events by Janet Steele, Catharin Dalpino, Ronald Spector, and Bruce Dickson, among others.

Dr. Shepherd opened his talk with a framework of several questions that shaped his research. For example, "What would drive the party to spend so much money reconstructing what the Red Guard had destroyed?" He outlined the process of "destruction, construction, and re-creation of nature" as it plays a role in heritage tourism.

This idea was particularly relevant in Dr. Shepherd's research on Wu Tai Shan, home of the largest conglomeration of religious practitioners outside of Tibet. He stressed that, despite the focus on preserving "sacred space" in China, there is in fact no emphasis on sacred heritage, but rather "historical" and "cultural" preservation. For example, Wu Tai Shan itself was first labeled a scenic area, then a forest reserve, and finally in 2009 a UNESCO site. This is interesting when we consider the Buddhist monasteries being preserved there, and the idea that although 75% of tourists/travelers/pilgrims visit Wu Tai Shan for "Buddhist" reasons, very few identify themselves as Buddhist. It seems that by preserving Buddhist space, history, and culture, the religion undergoes secularization.

Dr. Shepherd examined the process by which 5000 people were displaced from their homes in Shanxi valley, with plans to displace the rest of the secular society by 2015. They have been relocated to a resettlement village outside the south gate of the park with apartments that are much larger and much more modern than their previous homes. Yet people aren't moving there. Why not? Dr. Shepherd proposed several explanations: Cost (based on size, number of windows, etc); economics (those reimbursed for a small house can't afford to buy a new larger one); inconvenient (several hundred meters outside the park where they all work); and state-ownership of the land (farmers can't live off the land if they don't own it). On the other hand, the monasteries are undergoing continual renovation as the designated heritage site generates new modes of income for the monastic people. Heritage sites become places where people do business rather than places where people live. For this reason, UNESCO makes sense aesthetically when the people are separated from the space, but when the two are intertwined, the idea of destruction comes into play.

In Wu Tai Shan secular life is being destroyed, replaced by construction of religious sites, and followed by re-creation of nature. This brings up several questions about who wins and who loses in the process of preserving sacred space.

Asia Business Intern- Summer Intern 2011- 2012 graduates

Pacific Bridge Medical (PBM) is an international medical consulting firm focused on Asia (www.pacificbridgemedical.com). PBM assists medical companies with regulatory issues and business development in Asia.

PBM is currently seeking an individual who is interested in Asian business issues. This is an outstanding opportunity to be a key player at the company and to learn in a fast-paced business environment. All the work done at PBM involves Asia and business in Asia, so this is an excellent chance for those interested in the region to put their knowledge to practice.

Looking for 2012 college graduates who if successful in the summer may be offered a full time job opportunity.

Intern Job Description:

Database work
Research/Writing on Asia medical issues
Work on Asian medical consulting projects
Increase marketing via search engine optimization

Candidate Requirements:

Must have strong interest in Asia (majored in Asian studies, took some courses on Asia, studied Asian languages, or speak an Asian language)
Recent college graduate or individual with a few years of work experience
Must be hardworking, dedicated, loyal, and able to multi-task
Must have at least a 3.5 GPA or higher
Extremely detail oriented

This internship will be in a fast paced environment with abundant room to grow and perform.

Interested candidates should review our website at www.pacificbridgemedical.com to learn more about our businesses.

Please send your resume and a detailed cover letter explaining what skills you can bring to our company and an explanation of your interest in this position, to Shawna Lepage (slepage@pacificbridge.com). Resumes received without cover letters referencing this specific position will not be considered. No phone calls please.

Location

7315 Wisconsin Ave.
Suite 609E
Bethesda, MD 20814

(Close to the Bethesda metro stop on the Red Line)

Job Opportunity-Asia Business Associate

Pacific Bridge, Inc. (PBI) is an international consulting firm focused on Asia. PBI has two divisions: business development and regulatory assistance in Asia for medical companies (http://www.pacificbridgemedical.com/), and recruiting and HR consulting in Asia (http://www.pacificbridge.com/). This position is exclusively in our medical business.

Pacific Bridge, Inc. is currently seeking an individual who is interested in Asian medical business issues. No prior experience in the medical area is required. This is an outstanding opportunity to be a key player at the company and to learn in a fast-paced business environment. All the work done at Pacific Bridge, Inc. involves Asia and business in Asia, so it is an excellent chance for those interested in the region to put their knowledge to practice.

Associate Job Description:
Work on Asian medical consulting projects
Correspond/Liaison with our Asian partners/affiliates and our US clients
Manage and coordinate medical regulatory projects

Candidate Requirements:
Must have strong interest in Asia (majored in Asian studies, took some courses on Asia, lived in Asia, or has fluency in an Asian language)
Strong interest in the medical sector
Must be hardworking, dedicated, loyal, and able to multi-task
Must have at least a 3.5 GPA or higher
Extremely detail oriented

Associate will work in a fast paced environment with abundant room to grow and perform. Compensation will be commensurate with experience.

Interested candidates should review our website (http://www.pacificbridgemedical.com/) to learn more about our medical business.

Please send your resume and a detailed cover letter explaining what skills you can bring to our company and an explanation of your interest in this position, to Shawna Lepage (slepage@pacificbridge.com). Resumes received without cover letters referencing this specific position will not be considered. No phone calls please.

Freeman Indonesia Non-Profit Internship Program (FINIP)

Interested in Interning in Indonesia?

Applications now open for

Freeman Indonesia Non-Profit Internship Program (FINIP)

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FREEMAN INDONESIA NON-PROFIT INTERNSHIP PROGRAM (FINIP)
http://www.iie.org/programs/finip

DEADLINE: March 1, 2011.

ELIGIBILITY: Sophomores and Juniors in good academic standing

POTENTIAL INTERNSHIP FIELDS: Arts, Economic Development, Education, Environmental Protection, Public Health, and others

The Institute of International Education is pleased to announce the continuation of an exciting new program. The Freeman Indonesia Nonprofit Internship Program (FINIP), funded by the Freeman Foundation, aims to develop student leaders and strengthen the nonprofit sector in Indonesia. IIE will select and pair 10 Indonesian students pursuing U.S. degrees with 10 U.S. undergraduates and arrange internships for them to work together in an Indonesian nonprofit organization.

The 9-week experience, from June 15 to August 13, 2011, arranged by IIE's partner organization, the Indonesian International Education Foundation (IIEF), will take place in three cities: Malang, Bandung and Yogyakarta. All program-related costs will be covered.

Upon returning to the U.S., students will be expected to share their experiences with peers on their home campuses and to explore ways to incorporate what they learned over the summer into their academic and professional careers.

Interested American and Indonesian sophomores and juniors enrolled in U.S. institutions are encouraged to apply, using the online application at http://www.iie.org/programs/finip . The deadline for submission of completed applications is March 1, 2011.

More information and a program flyer can be found at the program website at http://www.iie.org/programs/finip .