Description

Subnational engagement constitutes an important yet often overlooked aspect of China’s economic and political relations with the United States and other U.S.-aligned powers. This collaborative research project between the University of Notre Dame and Smith College aims to assess the trajectory of U.S.-China paradiplomacy amidst the growing geopolitical rivalry over the past decade (2012-2024), providing the first comprehensive analysis of state-level relationships with China through a multi-method approach. A publicly accessible dataset on State-Level Action on China will be generated to enable the tracking of cooperation and confrontation with China across all 50 states over time. Utilizing elite interviews, documentary research, and comparative case studies of four states—California, Florida, Indiana, and New Hampshire—it will offer qualitative insights into the causes and consequences of these subnational variations. Research outputs will include an academic monograph, a series of articles, policy briefs, and other public-facing scholarship. In addition, the project will actively involve undergraduate students at various stages, providing them with training opportunity to sustain the field of Chinese politics. The Luce grant will primarily cover personnel costs, including course release, summer salaries, and student research assistantships.