Observing the Iowa Caucuses: China’s Xie Tao on American Politics

On this timely episode of China Field Notes, Scott Kennedy is joined by Xie Tao, Dean and Professor of the School of International Relations and Diplomacy at Beijing Foreign Studies University. Xie speaks to Scott after a remarkable trip with his students to the United States to observe the 2024 Iowa caucuses amidst a historic blizzard. They discuss how Xie became interested in studying American politics, the importance of field research, the difficulties he encountered entering the U.S., his impressions from Iowa, and his view of America’s future. Although Xie is from China, his observations most strikingly reflect the perspective of a political scientist. Xie Tao is Dean and Professor of the School of International Relations and Diplomacy at Beijing Foreign Studies University. He holds a PhD in political science from Northwestern University (2007). His research interests include U.S. Congress, elections, public opinion, and U.S.-China relations. His research has been published in the Journal of Contemporary China and American Politics Research, as well as leading journals in China. He is the author of U.S.-China Relations: China Policy on Capitol Hill (Routledge 2009 and Living with the Dragon: How the American Public Views the Rise of China (with Benjamin I. Page, Columbia University Press, 2010).

Om Podcasten

Understanding China has become more difficult than ever. It has also become more important than ever. Whether the United States and China are rivals, partners, or a mix of both, effective policy will only be as good as the information on which it is based. Host Scott Kennedy, the Senior Adviser and Trustee Chair in Chinese Business and Economics at CSIS, has been one of the few American scholars to travel between Washington and Beijing in recent years. His travels are driven by a firm belief that field research, direct observation, and talking and listening to Chinese perspectives must be a part of our toolkit to understand the People’s Republic of China. Join Scott as he speaks to Chinese leaders from business, government, and academia, as well as foreigners who have spent many years living and working in China, on what makes China tick, where the country is going, what connects us, and what divides us. We’ll dive into all of that and more on China Field Notes – with Scott Kennedy.