Book lauch with Frances Wang, Assistant Professor of Political Science at Colgate University followed by commentary by Rory Truex, Associate Professor of Politics and International Affairs at Princeton University.

Why do nations actively publicize previously overlooked disputes, and why does domestic mobilization sometimes fail to lead to aggressive policy?

The Art of State Persuasion explores China’s strategic use of state propaganda during crises, revealing why certain disputes are amplified while others are downplayed. This variation depends on the alignment, or lack thereof, between Chinese state policy and public opinion. When public sentiment is more moderate than the government’s foreign policy objectives, a ‘mobilization campaign’ is initiated. Conversely, when public opinion is more hawkish, a ‘pacification campaign’ is deployed to mollify public sentiment.

Sponsored by the Political Science Department's Rakin Fund.