Policy Priorities in the Chinese Communist Party: A View From Elite Policy Meetings

This year’s Pearson-Chambers Lecture features Victor Shih, PhD, professor at UC San Diego’s School of Global Policy and Strategy, holder of the Ho Miu Lam Chair in China and Pacific Relations, and director of the 21st Century China Center. Shih is a leading scholar on Chinese elite politics and political economy. His expertise spans Chinese banking and fiscal policies, exchange rates and the internal dynamics of the Chinese Communist Party. He is the author of Factions and Finance in China: Elite Conflict and Inflation and Coalitions of the Weak: Elite Politics in China from Mao’s Stratagem to the Rise of Xi, and editor of Economic Shocks and Authoritarian Stability. Shih has published widely in top journals, including American Political Science Review and Journal of Politics. His current research examines Chinese elite activities and defense firms globally, supported by a comprehensive database of elite biographies.

In his lecture, "Policy Priorities in the Chinese Communist Party: A View From Elite Policy Meetings," Dr. Shih will present findings from an unprecedented analysis of records from over 1,000 CCP policy meetings held between 2012 and 2022. This research uncovers how China’s top leadership allocates attention across critical policy areas from internal discipline and anti-corruption to economic management and technological independence. Attendees will gain a rare, data-driven perspective on the priorities shaping China’s future and influencing global politics.

The lecture will be followed by a Q&A session and a reception.

Join us for an engaging discussion on the inner workings of China’s political elite and the global implications of these policy trends.

About the Pearson-Chambers Lecture Series

The Pearson-Chambers Lecture Series is an annual event hosted by the Department of Political Science and International Relations to foster community among scholars and students across San Diego universities. Each year, the series invites a distinguished expert to share insights on pressing issues in political science or international relations, creating opportunities for dialogue, collaboration and intellectual growth.