"China's Galaxy Empire"

Professor John Keane's latest book – China's Galaxy Empire, published this month by Oxford University Press – argues that China is a new empire of a kind never before witnessed: a galaxy empire. After two centuries of decline and subjugation, China has a position of prominence in world affairs. Its new empire is the first to be born of the digital communications era. This young empire is economically and politically powerful, and heavily armed. Its gravitational, push/pull effects are impacting every continent. It is even reconfiguring outer space, where China is competing with the United States, India and Europe to become the leading power. The galaxy empire interpretation rejects clichéd mis-descriptions of China as a "big power", "sovereign state" or monolithic "autocracy". China defies older definitions of land, sea and air based empires.

Keane's address will chart the developments that have made China's rising empire so novel: the launch of the massive state capitalist Belt and Road Initiative; the rapid rise of a global Chinese middle class; internal colonialism in Tibet and Xinjiang; the growth of the world's largest standing army; and China's efforts to re-define the US-led 'rules-based international order' by means of new currency arrangements, cross-border protocols, bio-protection agreements and peacekeeping and military operations. He warns against the political and military perils of simple-minded friend-versus-enemy and "Big China, Bad China" thinking. But he also proffers a forewarning to China's rulers: while every rising empire aims to shift the balance of power in its favour, no empire lasts forever; and some are stillborn because they indulge in illusions of greatness and reckless power adventures.

REGISTRATION CLOSES AT 4:00PM AEST ON Tuesday, May 21.

We welcome participants in-person at the Glover Cottages, tickets to be pre-paid . Once the limit for in-person attendees is reached, tickets will no longer be sold on the website or at the door.

Refreshments will be served from 6pm at Glover Cottages. The event will start at 6.30pm AEST (Sydney, Canberra, Melbourne time), Tuesday May 21.

For further information please email nswexec@internationalaffairs.org.au