Key Cooperative Research Institute for Policy Studies of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the P.R.C (2022-2024)

The Session 20 of Yucheng Study Group (Ph.D. Candidates Workshop on International Studies) Focused on “the Fieldwork Methodology in Area Studies”

发布时间:2025-03-18浏览次数:600

To commemorate the 120th anniversary of the founding of Fudan University, the Institute of International Studies, Fudan University hosted the 20th Session of Yucheng Study Group (Ph.D. Candidates Workshop on International Studies) on the afternoon of March 17, 2025.

The theme of the Seminar was: the Fieldwork Methodology in Area Studies. The two key-note speakers were Emily Conrad and Zhang Jieying, both of whom are Ph.D. candidates at School of International Relations & Public Affairs, Fudan University. It was chaired by Professor Sun Degang, Assistant Dean of the Institute of International Studies and Director of the Center for Middle Eastern Studies, Fudan University. Professor Cai Cuihong from the Center for American Studies, and Professor Zou Zhiqiang from the Center for Middle Eastern Studies, served as the discussants. Over 30 faculties and students from Fudan University and other institutes attended the event.

The two key-note speakers shared their experiences in conducting fieldwork and promoting doctoral dissertation research in developed and developing countries respectively. The first keynote speaker, Emily Conrad, focused on the U.S. “S.576 Act” and demonstrated the dilemma of local governance in South Carolina to maintain a balance between globalization and national security through the analysis of the legislative process, driving factors and subsequent impacts of the China-related investment project bill. The second keynote speaker, Zhang Jieying (presented by Ph.D. candidate Zhong Ling), combined her research with her fieldwork experience in Israel, Egypt, Morocco and other Middle East countries, proposed a model of “complex triangular rivalries”, and analyzed the reasons why the governance of transboundary rivers in the Middle East has been in trouble for a long time and why it is difficult to form an effective cooperation mechanism.

In the discussion session, Professor Cai Cuihong pointed out that in recent years, China’s area studies had made great progress in research methods, and strove to build a China-styled knowledge system of area studies, and she encouraged young fellows to pay attention to the combination of theory and practice, macro and micro, and qualitative and quantitative research methodologies. In response to the doctoral student Emily Conra’s presentation, Professor Cai suggested that she supplement the case, sharpen the theoretical framework, and foster in-depth research in combination with the domestic political situation in the United States. In response to the research of Dr. Jieying Zhang, Professor Cai Cuihong affirmed her ability to construct theories and the application of field research methods. Professor Zou Zhiqiang spoke highly of the research findings of the two doctoral students and the application of the fieldwork method of area studies, and believed that the trend of Sino-US relations has an important impact on the research of Dr. Emily Conra. In response to Dr. Jieying Zhang's research, Professor Zou believes that the research on the governance of transboundary rivers in the Middle East needs to be further deepened from the perspectives of the relevance of specific governance issues and the linkage between internal and external actors.

The audience had in-depth exchanges with the two speakers and commentators on theoretical models, research questions and theories in doctoral dissertations. Finally, the moderator, Professor Sun Degang, summarized the workshop and encouraged the doctoral students to combine theoretical research with fieldwork, and have the courage to make academic innovations, address research questions, put forward new hypotheses, apply new methods, and enrich new knowledge in the process of fieldwork in the target countries.

The Yucheng Study Group (Ph.D. Candidates Workshop on International Studies) is an important academic platform hosted by Institute of International Studies, Fudan University, which has built an exchange platform for regional and national talent training and scientific research of Fudan University, and has been successfully held for 20 sessions so far.

By Ph.D. candidate Li Wenbo