William Kirby (Harvard Business School)
First-Year Seminar 73K | 4 Credits (Spring 2025) | CANVAS SITE
Tuesday, 9:45 AM – 11:45 AM
The United States and China are heirs to a rich history of mutual friendship, alliance, antagonism, and rivalry. Both countries have been shaped and re-shaped by the nature of their mutual relations. The nature of their relationship will do much to define the world of the 21st century.This seminar examines the present and future of U.S.-China relations in the light of their past. What are the enduring patterns and issues in Chinas relations with the United States? How have these two countries perceived each other over time? How has trade defined the relationship, and how do Chinese and American companies navigate todays geopolitical divide? How has war shaped experiences in the United States and China, and what are the risks of military confrontation today? How has Taiwan survived and thrived between Beijing and Washington? What are the prospects for cooperation on global crises such as climate change? What is the role of American and Chinese universities, such as Harvard and Tsinghua, in shaping our future relations? In short, are the United States and China destined for confrontation? Or can they lead the world in addressing global challenges?Students will be introduced to the China expertise and resources found in Harvards Schools as well as at the Harvard Center Shanghai. In their final project, students, working in groups, will address a central challenge in the Chinese-American relationship and propose a solution.