Jing Chen

Associate Professor of Political Science

Jing Chen is an Associate Professor of Political Science at Hartwick College. She teaches courses in Comparative Politics and International Relations with a focus on Pacific Asia, UN, Authoritarianism, Emerging Powers, and US-China Relations. She is the author of Useful Complaints: How Petitions Assist Decentralized Authoritarianism in China(Lexington, 2016). The book argues that petitions help Chinese central government to maintain its decentralized authoritarian regime by providing an information edge in its relations with local officials and citizens. In addition to her research on the petition system and decentralized authoritarianism in China, she has also published in peer-reviewed journals on a variety of topics, such as China’s participation in U.N. peacekeeping and China’s policy toward Japanese war criminals. Her current research focuses on China’s policy towards Responsibility to Protect and environmental NGOs. She was born in China. Before earning her doctoral degree at Princeton, she received BA and MA in international politics at Peking University, Beijing, China.

Recent courses taught:

• Introduction to Comparative Politics
• US Foreign Policy
• US & China: Images & Politics
• East Asian Politics
• Rising Powers
• Peacekeeping & Security

Distinctions (awards, fellowships, and grants):

• Faculty Research Grant, Hartwick College, AY2017-2018
• Startup Grant, Hartwick College, AY2016-2018
• Luce Initiative on Asian Studies and Environment Grant, 2012-2016
• Faculty Development Grant, Eckerd College, Spring 2012, Fall 2012, Summer 2012, Summer 2013, Summer 2014, Summer 2015, Fall 2015
• Friends of the Library Supplemental Book Grant, Eckerd College, Spring 2012, Spring 2013
• Suntrust Grant, Eckerd College, Spring 2012
• Dean’s Fund for Scholarly Travel, Princeton University, Spring 2011
• Dissertation Writing Fellowship and Tuition Support, East Asian Studies Program, Princeton University, AY2010-2011
• Conference Travel Grant, East Asian Studies Program, Princeton University, Spring 2010
• Bradley Research Program Fellowship, the Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation, AY2009-2010
• Research Fellow, Center for Rural China Governance, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, China, AY2008-2009
• Princeton Institute for International and Regional Studies Summer Grant, 2008 and 2009
• Program in East Asian Studies Summer Grant, Princeton University, 2008 and 2009
• Department of Politics Summer Grant, Princeton University, 2008
• East Asian Studies Fellowship, Princeton University, AY2005 to 2007
• Graduate Student Fellowship, Princeton University, AY2005 to 2010
• Visiting Student Fellowship, Waseda University and SASAKAWA Peace Foundation, Summer 2003
• SASAKAWA Peace Foundation Fellowship, Peking University, AY2001 to 2004
• ING ANTAI Scholarship, Peking University, AY2001-2002

Selected publications:

Books

• 2016. Jing Chen, Useful Complaints: How Petitions Assist Decentralized Authoritarianism in China, Lanham, MD: Lexington Books.

Book Chapters

• 2014. Jing Chen, “Petitioning as Policymaking: Chinese Rural Tax Reform,” in Democratization in China, Korea, and Southeast Asia? Local and National Perspectives, eds. By Kate Zhou, Shelley Rigger, and Lynn White, Routledge. pp.156-172.

Journal Articles

• 2020. Jing Chen, “Environmental Education, Knowledge and Awareness in China: A Case of Xiamen University Students.” ASIANetwork Exchange 27(1): pp. 54–72. DOI: https://doi.org/10.16995/ane.298
• 2016. Jing Chen, “Petitioning Beijing: Subnational Variation,” The Journal of Contemporary China, Vol.25, No.101, pp.760-776.
• 2012. Jing Chen, “Who Participates in Collective Petitions in Rural China,” Journal of Chinese Political Science, Vol.17, No.3, pp.251-268.
• 2009. Jing Chen, “The Trial of Japanese War Criminals in China: The Paradox of Leniency,” China Information, Vol. 23, No.3, November. pp.447-472.
• 2009. Jing Chen, “Explaining the Change in China’s Attitude toward UN Peacekeeping: A Norm Change Perspective,” The Journal of Contemporary China, Vol. 18, No. 58, January. pp.157-173.

College service and professional affiliations:

• Scholarship Awards Committee (2018)

External Links