How have autocracies managed to re-emerge after 1990? The key boils down to the global trade system and a new form of autocracy: "Engaged Reformer."
The post-war Liberal Int'l Order (LIO) along with globalization faces significant challenges from potential issues. How do these issues manifest?
Classic trade theories have largely glossed over what can happen when supposedly advantagous sectors turn out to face displacement. Trade then is a nonstarter. The "After Equilibrium" theory largely explains today's trade conflicts. How does it play out?
George Yean, PhD candidate
Department of Government, Harvard University
Contact: gyean@fas.harvard.edu
Appointment: Calendly
I study how globalization, a fundamental transformation of the global and national economies, shapes contemporary political and security environments, including domestic foundations (e.g., democracy, economic security) and international dynamics (e.g., geoeconomic conflicts, autocratic resurgence, the international order). My second research strand focuses on China, including China's rise, U.S.-China relations, and Chinese foreign policy. Overall, my research combines international political economy and security. Particularly, by paying attention to what existing theories may have missed, I seek to offer more comprehensive explanations for today's pressing challenges.
I use a combination of quantitative and qualitative methods, including causal inference, survey methods, textual analysis, machine learning/artificial intelligence, and formal models to uncover the underlying stories. I am affiliated with the Institute for Quantitative Social Sciences (IQSS) at Harvard. I used to work in tech companies such as Cisco Systems as a research engineer on operating systems and data performance.
I believe in the power of political communication and public engagement as a public good. I in spare time run an educational YouTube channel that explains otherwise obscure political and economic knowledge to the public of a censored region, and I’ve been fortunate to attract over 500,000 subscribers and tens of millions of views.
