I. A Gift of Knowledge: The Birth of a Trans-Pacific Scholarly Repository
The Library of the Center for American Studies (CAS) is a vital component of the library system at Fudan University’s Institute of International Studies (IIS Fudan). With strong institutional backing, the CAS Library has developed a robust and well-organized collection while undergoing significant facility modernization. Thanks to generous contributions from the Fudan Development Foundation, the Liberty Bell Foundation, Professor Jiang Yuansheng of MIT and Harvard Medical School, among others, the Library now houses over 59,000 Chinese and English-language volumes, including 16,000 in Chinese.
The Library subscribes to more than 20 leading international academic journals—such as Foreign Affairs, International Security, and The Washington Quarterly—and over 60 authoritative Chinese journals, including Social Sciences in China, Journal of International Security Studies, and World Economics and Politics. Together, these resources provide comprehensive support for research on U.S. politics, economics, diplomacy, military affairs, and social and cultural issues, laying a solid foundation for high-level scholarship.
A particularly notable contribution comes from Professor Jiang Yuansheng, a distinguished scholar jointly appointed by Harvard Medical School and MIT. Since 1977, driven by a profound sense of national responsibility, Professor Jiang has donated more than 20,000 rare English-language volumes. In recognition of his generosity, the Center established the “Jiang Yuansheng Special Collection,” with each book bearing the professor’s handwritten signature—symbolizing the enduring hopes of overseas scholars for the advancement of Chinese academia.
Today, this intellectual treasure trove, located on Fudan’s Handan campus, continues to nurture a new generation of scholars in international studies, equipping them with global vision, deep academic grounding, and the ability to advance area studies in China.
II. Pillars of Scholarship: Three Core Research Outputs
The Library of the Center for American Studies is not only a repository of books—it is also a cradle of intellectual inquiry. Its signature research outputs provide diverse perspectives on the United States and its evolving global role.
Fudan American Review: A Bridge for Scholarly Dialogue
Founded in 2001, Fudan American Review is a peer-reviewed academic journal edited by the Center for American Studies, which is registered as a Key Research Institute in Humanities and Social Sciences by the Ministry of Education. The journal publishes high-quality research on major topics in American studies, offering original insights into U.S. politics, economics, diplomacy, society, and culture—past and present, global and regional. Its mission is to deepen understanding of the United States’ international relations, domestic pluralism, and global influence.
The journal is published biannually and occasionally releases special issues in response to significant developments in China–U.S. relations. Regular sections cover U.S. politics, economics, and diplomacy, as well as society, culture, religion, philosophy, history, and related areas, including book reviews. Special issues were published to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the Center in 2015 and the 40th anniversary of China–U.S. diplomatic relations in 2018.
To date, 39 issues have been released, featuring contributions from former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, former Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, and scholars from leading institutions such as the Shanghai Institutes for International Studies, the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, the China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations, Tsinghua University, the University of Macau, the University of Virginia, and Boston College.
The journal is indexed in CSSCI, CNKI, and Wanfang, and enjoys wide academic recognition. In December 2024, it was named a “High-Impact Academic Jikan” by the China Science and Technology Information Research Center, ranking first in both Area Studies and Political Science.
Strategic Report on Sino–U.S. Relations: A Chronicle of an Era
Edited by the Center and published annually by World Affairs Press since 2014, the Strategic Report on Sino–U.S. Relations has released 11 volumes to date. It serves as a systematic and comprehensive record of the evolution of China–U.S. relations and is an important reference for both academic researchers and policymakers.
Drawing on the expertise of scholars at the Center, the report offers multidimensional analysis of China–U.S. relations across key areas—politics, trade and the economy, Taiwan and Indo-Pacific strategy, military and security affairs, and people-to-people exchanges. It explores both U.S. policy toward China and China’s approach to the U.S., while also offering forecasts for future developments. A detailed chronology of major events—including high-level dialogues, sanctions and countermeasures, and international institutional competition—provides valuable temporal context for researchers.
Supported by scholars from both within and beyond Fudan University, the report has been well-received in academic circles and continues to grow in influence as a foundational reference in the field of China–U.S. relations.
Series on the United States and the World in the 21st Century: Exploring the Future
Published by Fudan University Press and launched in 2014, Series on the United States and the World in the 21st Century has released ten titles as of 2024. The series investigates the political, economic, social, and cultural transformations taking place on the United States in the 21st century, explores the evolution of its global role, and analyzes its complex interactions with the international system. For Chinese scholars, a timely and nuanced understanding of these developments is essential for interpreting global trends and responding to changing external dynamics.
Published titles include:
Liu Yongtao, Politics of Discourse: Symbolic Power and U.S. Foreign Policy (2014)
Wang Xiaofeng, Cyber Strategy: A New Pillar of U.S. National Security (2015)
Zhou Xiao, Remoulding America: The Overall Construct of American New Media Society and Its Impact (2016)
Zhang Fang, Leap Over Thucydides' Trap: Study of the New Type of Sino-US Military Relations (2016)
Pan Yaling, Interaction between U.S. Political Culture Transformation and Its Global Strategy Adjustment (2018)
Cai Cuihong, Cyberpolitics in U.S.-China Relations (2019)
Liu Yongtao, Bypassing Congress: U.S. Presidential Unilateral Executive Actions (2021)
Wei Zongyou, A Study of the U.S. Security Arrangements in the Indo-Pacific (2021)
Pan Yaling, Back to the Future: On Resurgence of America's Racism in the 21st Century (2024)
Wang Hao, From Cycle to Identity: Paradigm Innovation and Agenda Resetting of the Study of American Party Politics (2024)
III. A Treasured Archive: Foreign Relations of the United States—A Key to Diplomatic History
Among the Library’s most prized holdings is the Foreign Relations of the United States (FRUS) series—the official documentary record of major U.S. foreign policy decisions and diplomatic activities. Compiled by the Office of the Historian at the U.S. Department of State, the FRUS series dates back to 1861 and now comprises more than 450 volumes. In recent decades, it has increasingly incorporated declassified materials from across the U.S. foreign affairs community.
Documents in the FRUS series are drawn from presidential libraries, the Department of State, the Department of Defense, the National Security Council, the CIA, USAID, and the personal papers of key policymakers. Selected for their explanatory value in understanding policymaking processes, implementation, and outcomes, these documents provide both official records and behind-the-scenes insight. Over the last 30 years, the scope has expanded to include intelligence operations and covert actions.
Since 1952, the series has been organized by presidential administration and further subdivided by geographic or thematic focus. Highlights include:
Nixon and Ford Administrations (1969–1976): 65 volumes
Carter Administration (1977–1980): 32 volumes
Reagan Administration (1981–1988): 49 volumes planned
George H. W. Bush Administration (1989–1993): currently under compilation
Compared to similar publications from other nations, FRUS is the world’s longest-running and most comprehensive collection of declassified diplomatic records. It remains one of the most valuable official publications of the U.S. Department of State. The Center holds print volumes from 1861 to 1980, offering researchers direct access to primary sources on the inner workings of U.S. foreign policy.
IV. Reader Services
Location: 3rd Floor, Center for American Studies, Handan Campus, Fudan University
Opening Hours:
Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday: 08:30–11:30, 13:30–16:30
Tuesday: 08:30–11:30
V. Closing Remarks
In an age inundated with digital information, we remain firm in our belief in the enduring warmth of printed texts—their ability to carry the weight of human thought. True scholarship cuts through the noise to grasp the essence of history. We warmly invite you to step into this temple of knowledge: to trace the grain of the past in timeworn pages, and to feel the pulse of our times between the lines.
This is not merely a place for preserving books—it is a space for nurturing new ideas, awaiting every curious mind to explore and shape the future of American studies.
(Photo: Book display from the Center’s collection)
(Photo: Interior of the reading room at the Center for American Studies)
