Fifth Hawai‘i International Conference on Chinese Studies (HICCS 2027)
The Fifth Hawai‘i International Conference on Chinese Studies (HICCS 2027) is set to convene in Honolulu, a key hub in North America. This academic gathering serves as a critical forum for scholars and researchers globally to present and discuss their work on the diverse facets of Chinese studies. The conference aims to foster interdisciplinary dialogue and advance understanding of China's evolving role and impact across various domains.
Committees & topics
Topics
Anthropology of Contemporary and Historical China · Chinese Art, Art History, and Architecture · Chinese Business, Finance, and Marketing · Chinese Cultural Studies and Literature · The Chinese Economy · Education in and about China · Chinese History · Journalism and Communication in the Chinese World
Why it matters
The HICCS 2027 conference is significant because it brings together a global community of experts to delve into contemporary and historical issues related to China. In an increasingly interconnected world, understanding China's trajectory in areas such as politics, economy, society, and culture is paramount for international relations and global stability. The insights generated from such discussions are vital for policymakers, academics, and the public alike.
This event provides a unique opportunity to engage with diverse perspectives on China, ranging from its internal dynamics to its external engagements. By facilitating robust academic exchange, the conference contributes to a more nuanced and comprehensive understanding of China's complexities. This is especially crucial given China's growing influence on global affairs, making informed analysis and dialogue indispensable.
How to prepare
Prospective participants should consider framing their research contributions to align with the conference's overarching goal of advancing Chinese studies. Given the location in Honolulu, USA, and the international scope, presentations that bridge regional specificities with broader global implications are likely to resonate. Focusing on interdisciplinary approaches that integrate cultural, economic, and political analyses can enhance the depth and relevance of scholarly work.
To maximize engagement and impact, researchers might consider how their work contributes to ongoing debates or introduces novel perspectives within Chinese studies. Preparing to articulate the broader implications of one's research, especially in the context of global trends and international relations, will be beneficial. The conference format encourages scholarly exchange, so preparing for constructive dialogue and feedback on presented work is also advisable.
Country perspectives
Where the most-relevant 5 countries stand on the core issues in play. Click through for the full country profile.
United StatesAs the host nation, the USA provides a neutral ground for academic discourse on China, fostering open exchange.
Role in topic
The USA, particularly Honolulu, serves as the geographical and logistical host for the conference, facilitating international academic exchange on Chinese studies. Its academic institutions and strategic location in North America contribute to the conference's global reach.
ChinaChina is the central subject of study, with diverse internal and external dynamics under examination.
Role in topic
China is the primary focus of all discussions and research presented at the conference. Scholars from around the world analyze its political, economic, social, and cultural developments, as well as its international relations and historical trajectory.
TaiwanTaiwan's unique position and relationship with mainland China are often key areas of discussion.
Role in topic
Taiwan is a significant area of study within Chinese studies, often discussed in relation to cross-strait relations, its distinct political and social development, and its cultural ties to mainland China. Its perspective offers crucial insights into the broader region.
Hong Kong's evolving autonomy and societal changes are frequently examined in the context of Chinese governance.
Role in topic
Hong Kong represents a critical case study within Chinese studies, particularly concerning issues of governance, autonomy, and societal changes under the 'One Country, Two Systems' framework. Its developments provide important context for understanding contemporary China.
SingaporeSingapore offers a Southeast Asian perspective on China's regional influence and economic engagement.
Role in topic
Singapore, as a key economic and political player in Southeast Asia, offers a distinct regional perspective on China's influence, economic partnerships, and strategic interactions within the broader Asian context. Its experiences provide valuable comparative insights.
Topics & background
The background behind each topic and the actors that shape it.
Anthropology of Contemporary and Historical China
Key players
- China
Primary field site and gatekeeper of research access, archives, and minority regions.
- Taiwan
Long-standing alternative site for Chinese ethnography and Austronesian/Indigenous studies.
- United States
Hosts major China anthropology programs and funds much overseas fieldwork.
- Hong Kong
Historic hub for Sinophone and borderlands ethnography, now reshaped by post-2020 conditions.
- Singapore
Center for overseas Chinese, diaspora, and Southeast Asian Sinophone research.
Chinese Art, Art History, and Architecture
Key players
- China
Holds the largest archaeological and museum holdings and sets domestic heritage policy.
- Taiwan
Custodian of the Taipei Palace Museum collection and a major center of classical art scholarship.
- United States
Home to leading East Asian art departments, museums, and the contemporary art market.
United KingdomHolds significant Chinese collections (British Museum, V&A) at the center of repatriation debates.
FranceHosts the Guimet and Cernuschi collections and active scholarship on Dunhuang and Buddhist art.
JapanLong tradition of Chinese art scholarship and key holdings of Song and Yuan painting.
Chinese Business, Finance, and Marketing
Key players
- China
Sets industrial policy, capital controls, and the regulatory environment for domestic and foreign firms.
- United States
Key counterpart market and architect of export controls and investment screening.
- Hong Kong
Principal offshore listing, RMB, and dealmaking hub for Chinese firms.
- Singapore
Growing regional headquarters and wealth-management center for Chinese capital.
- Japan
Major trading partner and competitor in autos, electronics, and high-end manufacturing.
GermanyLeading European partner whose firms anchor automotive and industrial ties with China.
Chinese Cultural Studies and Literature
Key players
- China
Largest producer of Chinese-language literature, film, and online cultural content.
- Taiwan
Center of free Sinophone publishing, queer literature, and Indigenous writing.
- Hong Kong
Historic node of Cantonese literature, film, and cultural criticism under new constraints.
MalaysiaHeartland of Mahua (Malaysian Chinese) literature central to Sinophone studies.
- United States
Hosts major translation programs, diasporic writers, and East Asian literature departments.
- Singapore
Multilingual Sinophone literary scene and key regional publishing hub.
The Chinese Economy
Key players
- China
Subject economy and the second-largest global growth engine.
- United States
Largest trading rival; shapes tariffs, export controls, and the global dollar system.
- Japan
Major creditor, investor, and analytical reference point as a precedent for post-bubble adjustment.
South KoreaDeeply integrated through semiconductor and intermediate-goods supply chains.
- Germany
Anchor of EU economic engagement, especially in autos and machinery.
AustraliaKey commodity supplier whose trade flows track Chinese demand cycles.
Education in and about China
Key players
- China
Operates and regulates the domestic system and shapes outbound student flows.
- United States
Largest historical destination for Chinese students and host of major China studies programs.
- United Kingdom
Second-largest Anglophone destination and partner in transnational education.
- Australia
Heavily dependent on Chinese enrollments and a focal point for foreign-interference debates.
CanadaMajor host of Chinese students and site of Confucius Institute restructuring.
- Singapore
Regional education hub with strong bilingual and Chinese-medium offerings.
Chinese History
Key players
- China
Holds the principal archives and sets the dominant official historiographical line.
- Taiwan
Houses Republican-era archives (Academia Historica, Academia Sinica) and pluralist scholarship.
- Japan
Strong tradition of Sinology (Tōyōshi) and major holdings on early-modern East Asia.
- United States
Leading center of New Qing History, modern China, and Cold War-era research.
- United Kingdom
Historic Sinology centers and key colonial-era archives on China and Hong Kong.
RussiaCustodian of Soviet-era archives critical to PRC and Sino-Soviet history.
Journalism and Communication in the Chinese World
Key players
- China
Operates the domestic media system and major external broadcasters.
- United States
Home to leading foreign correspondents, platform companies, and influence-operations research.
- Hong Kong
Once a regional press hub, now reshaped by the 2020 National Security Law.
- Taiwan
Robust free Chinese-language press and a frontline target of disinformation.
- Singapore
Regional media hub with significant Chinese-language coverage of Asia.
- United Kingdom
Hosts major China-watching outlets and regulators (Ofcom) that have acted on CGTN licensing.
Resources
News, lessons, and country profiles to prep for Fifth Hawai‘i International Conference on Chinese Studies (HICCS 2027).
Lessons
Bite-sized lessons to build the basics
Courses
Guided courses that go deeper on the topic
The states in play, with the data that shapes their stance
United StatesCountry dossier
ChinaCountry dossier
TaiwanCountry dossier
Country dossier
SingaporeCountry dossier
United KingdomCountry dossier
FranceCountry dossier
JapanCountry dossier
GermanyCountry dossier
MalaysiaCountry dossier
South KoreaCountry dossier
AustraliaCountry dossier
CanadaCountry dossier
RussiaCountry dossier