COVER STORY SIDEBAR
New 'China Hands': cultivating the next generation of expertise
McAllister Jimbo 09 works a cycling event as a volunteer for the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing. See larger image
They were called the "old China hands." From the turn of the 20th century through the ascendance of Mao Zedong, this assemblage of American diplomats, missionaries, military officers, businessmen and journalists -- often raised or educated in China -- possessed a deep, and deeply influential, command of Chinese culture and politics.
But in the 1950s their expertise was discredited, and their experience discounted, casualties of McCarthyism. The subsequent decades saw a persistent shortage of U.S.-China specialists, and few opportunities to restore the lost wisdom.
Now, social and economic forces are encouraging both sides of the Pacific to fill the gap. If Michael Zak '75 is right, Cornell will emerge as the leading American institution charting this new course. Nearly seven years ago, the engineering alumnus and venture capitalist proposed a new undergraduate major: China and Asia-Pacific Studies, or CAPS, a combination of liberal arts and professional training. The first 12 CAPS majors graduated in 2008, and the program's reputation and enrollment continue to gain momentum.
McAllister Jimbo 09 explores the Great Wall of China. See larger image
"In 2002, when we got the ball rolling, the idea of creating the pre-eminent center for U.S.-China policy generated a lot of skepticism. It's hard to imagine that now," says Zak.
Few institutions can match the program's rigor in both scholarship and practice. CAPS majors complete three to four years of intensive Chinese language training; a liberal arts education in Chinese history, culture, politics and international relations; a semester with Cornell in Washington, pursuing courses and internships at such top think tanks as the Brookings Institution; and one semester in Beijing, interning with American or Chinese organizations and studying at Peking University's prestigious School of International Studies.
It's about as exhaustive an introduction as four years can hold -- and that's the intent, according to Xu Xin, the program's acting director, who describes the CAPS view of China studies as interdisciplinary and holistic. Xin, like Chen Jian, the Michael J. Zak Chair of History for
U.S.-China Relations, was recruited to help shape CAPS and build the program's international reputation.
"It's important to look at China with a global perspective," Xin says. "For example, even to study contemporary U.S.-China relations, you need to understand China's growing influence in Africa and Latin America and in the world economy. Our challenge becomes striking the right balance between policy specialization and all the other strengths available here."
It's the right challenge for the times. CAPS students emerge with skills that help them work with the Chinese on their terms and to understand their needs. "Historically, the American view of foreign relations has been unilateral. In the 21st century, that's unacceptable. There's growing consensus that the United States can't credibly expect other countries to deal with them only on their terms."
That cooperative ethos also characterizes the CAPS program's evolution. Xin and his fellow faculty members continue to consult not only Zak, but also the students, on ways to make the program better.
"When I talk to the students, they have a gleam in their eyes," says Zak. "They know they're pioneers."
Postcards from China
Elizabeth Skovira '08 began studying Chinese to complement her interest in finance and labor. It led to a deep interest in Chinese culture and her affiliation with CAPS. Her internship at the American Chamber of Commerce in Beijing reinforced her choice. "There are many smart Chinese college graduates who can read English, and many American managers working in China with industry experience but lacking Chinese language skills," she says. Having both sets of skills serves as a valuable liaison between American companies and Chinese agencies, Skovira says.
McAllister Jimbo '09 was a history major with an emphasis in European studies. But about midway through Chen Jian's gateway course on Chinese history, "we started talking about the opening of China to the West, and I was hooked," she says. Her most rewarding experiences to date: writing for City Weekend Beijing -- an English-language magazine for the city's burgeoning expat community -- and volunteering at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. "I was able to see a lot of events and meet people from all over the world, and was in the middle of all the excitement."
Jonathan Delikat '10 came to Cornell for CAPS after a friend convinced him it was a cutting-edge major. "The mentality among everyone is that this is ahead of its time in so many ways," he says. "In CAPS you stand out. You're an expert."