What drives ideational competition and generates paradigm shifts in economic thought and theories in China? Since the establishment of the People's Republic of China in 1949, the Chinese economy and economic paradigm have undergone profound transformations, transitioning from a basis of Mao’s thought to a market economy with Chinese characteristics to now having an emphasis on sustainable development. This seminar delves into an ongoing research project that maps, analyzes, and theorizes the ideational shifts in economic theories in China and their interactions with Chinese economic policy.

This study seeks to unpack the evolution of Chinese economic thought and theories in the post-Mao era through the theoretical lenses of global political economy and the sociology of knowledge. It will ascertain theoretical changes in economic thinking that stem from the complex interplay of ideational, social, economic, and political forces at play across domestic, international, and global levels. In particular, the research will focus on the influential Chinese economists in Chinese universities, policy circles, think tanks, and financial and economic institutions, and apply methods such as bibliometrics, historical analysis, and social network analysis.

Diverging from existing literature, this study will illuminate the theoretical diversity and contestation of competing economic theories in China, as well as the intricate dynamics and complex interactions among competing social, economic, and political forces that shape these theories. By exploring and mapping the evolution of these theories, the study will reveal the forces that drive economic theoretical innovation in China and shed light on the economic ideas that have shaped or may influence the trajectories of China's economic policy in the years to come.