On July 5, 2019, Prof. Tim Niblock, Member of Faculty Council at the Institute of International and Area Studies (IIAS) of Tsinghua University and Professor Emeritus of the University of Exeter, brought the 8th and the last lecture of “Area Studies: Origins, Dilemmas, Key Concepts and Future Development”, under the topic of “New Horizons for Area Studies. An initial lecture followed by discussion” to IIAS.

First of all, Prof. Niblock reviewed, compared and summarized the cases of “success and failure” countries in the previous lecture. After that, he systematically sorted out and summarized the lecture series of “Area Studies: Origins, Dilemmas, Key Concepts and Future Development”, including the conceptual retrospect of the history of area studies in the first three lectures, and specific analysis and case studies in the last four sessions.

Then, he raised the question and requirements to the faculty and students of IIAS: How do you view the new development of area studies and the position of IIAS in it? He also invited them to comment his new paper on area studies. The faculty and students of IIAS actively discussed these issues with Prof. Niblock and put forward some suggestions and ideas on the paper, which were highly appreciated by Prof. Niblock.

The event ended in warm discussion.

By Cheng Yao & Wang Tingyi