The ongoing global coronavirus pandemic has generated considerable worldwide debate concerning China's global leadership and international contribution. Discussing Benjamin Ho's new book, China's Political Worldview and Chinese Exceptionalism, the event will explore how China is currently engaged in a competition with the United States to demonstrate its superiority over the latter.

Dr Ho argues what is at work in this competition is the sense of Chinese exceptionalism, as Beijing claims to be good and better than the U.S. and the West. How this is being played out in international politics will have significant implications for the future of global order and international leadership.

Meet our speakers and chair

Benjamin Ho is Assistant Professor at the China Programme in the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS) at Nanyang Technological University, Singapore.

Joseph Chinyong Liow is Tan Kah Kee Chair Professor in Comparative and International Politics and Dean at the College of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore.

Beverley Loke (@BeverleyLoke) is Lecturer in International Relations at the University of Exeter.

William A. Callahan is Professor of International Relations at the London School of Economics and Political Science. 

More about this event

The Department of International Relations (@LSEIRDept) is now in its 94th year - one of the oldest as well as largest IR departments in the world, with a truly international reputation. It is ranked 2nd in the UK in the QS World University Ranking by Subject 2021 tables for Politics and International Studies.

You can order the book at China's Political Worldview and Chinese Exceptionalism.

This event forms part of LSE’s Shaping the Post-COVID World initiative, a series imagining what the world could look like after the crisis, and how we get there.

Twitter Hashtag for this event: #LSEChineseExceptionalism

Podcast & Video

A podcast of this event is available to download from China's Political Worldview and Chinese Exceptionalism.

A video of this event is available to watch at China's Political Worldview and Chinese Exceptionalism.

Podcasts and videos of many LSE events can be found at the LSE Public Lectures and Events: podcasts and videos channel.