Name: Wang Zhaohui
Position: Associate Professor
Research Fields: International Relations, Comparative Politics, International and Comparative Political Economy, Southeast Asian Studies
Office: Nan An Building 312-1
Email: zhaohuiwang@xmu.edu.cn
Summary
I am Associate Professor of International Relations and Southeast Asian Studies at Xiamen University (XMU). I study international relations, comparative politics, and political economy, with a focus on Southeast Asia.
Before joining XMU, I received my Ph.D. in Politics and International Studies from University of Warwick, MSc. in International Political Economy from London School of Economics and Political Science, and dual bachelor’s degrees in International Politics and Economics from Renmin University of China.
I am an active member of the Center for Southeast Asian Studies and Chinese Association for Southeast Asian Studies, both based at XMU. I’ve enjoyed visiting and short-term appointments at Cornell University, University of Malaya, Thammasat University, and Vietnam National University.
Research
I study the interaction between international relations and domestic politics, and the interaction between political institutions and economic outcomes. Most of my research focuses on countries in the Asia Pacific, and I have a special interest in Southeast Asia. I am also interested in political science methodology and apply various research methods to area studies. Below is a selection of my publications:
• Zhaohui Wang, “All politics is local: sociopolitical regime and China’s railway infrastructure projects in Southeast Asia”, The Pacific Review, forthcoming.
• Zhaohui Wang, “Promise and peril of relational governance for Asian regionalism: evidence from China’s BRI infrastructure development in maritime Southeast Asia”, Asia Europe Journal, 2025, 23(2-3), 303-325.
• Zhaohui Wang, “Infrastructure and politics: why the Belt and Road Initiative proceeded differently in Malaysia and Indonesia”, Asia Pacific Viewpoint, 2023, 64(2), 144-157.
• 王昭晖：《英国区域研究史及若干思考——基于对伦敦大学亚非学院的考察》，《国际政治研究》2023年第4期，第107-130页。（人大复印报刊资料《世界史》2024年第1期全文转载，第96-110页）
• Zhaohui Wang and Yuheng Fu, “Local politics and fluctuating engagement with China: analysing the Belt and Road Initiative in Maritime Southeast Asia”, The Chinese Journal of International Politics, 2022, 15(2), 163-182.
• 王昭晖：《重新找回韦伯: 区域研究与社会科学的融合与发展》，《国际关系研究》 2022年第2期，第109-128页。（《新华文摘》2022年第23期全文转载，第1048-1063页）
• Zhaohui Wang, International Political Economy of China’s Exchange Rate Policy Making (Singapore: Springer, 2021).
• Zhaohui Wang and Zhiqiang Sun, “From globalization to regionalization: the United States, China, and the post-Covid-19 world economic order”, Journal of Chinese Political Science, 2021, 26(1), 69-87.
• Zhaohui Wang and Hong Zhao, “Relational governance in rhetoric and reality: explanations and problems of China’s Belt and Road Initiative from the relational perspective”, Globalizations, 2021, 18(4), 650-666.
• Zhaohui Wang and Jinghan Zeng, “From economic cooperation to strategic competition: understanding the US-China trade disputes”, Journal of Chinese Political Science, 2020, 25(1), 49-69.
• Zhaohui Wang, “Understanding Trump’s trade policy with China: international pressures meet domestic politics”, Pacific Focus, 2019, 34(3), 376-407.
• Zhaohui Wang, “The resumption of China’s exchange rate reform and the internationalization of RMB between 2010 and 2013”, Journal of Contemporary China, 2017, 26(108), 852-869.
• Zhaohui Wang, “The economic rise of China: rule-taker, rule-maker or rule-breaker?”, Asian Survey, 2017, 57(4), 595-617.
• Zhaohui Wang, “China’s exchange rate policy making: international pressures meet domestic politics”, Asian Studies Review, 2017, 41(1), 20-39.
Teaching
At the heart of my teaching philosophy lies the belief that teaching and learning are two sides of the same coin. I wish to create an environment where the distinction between teacher and student sometimes blurs, giving way to a shared identity of fellow learners on a shared path of intellectual exploration. In this journey, critical thinking is the active process that fuels our collective growth. Together, we don’t just consume knowledge; we learn to test, refine, and build it. Below is a list of my courses taught at XMU.
• Introduction to International Relations (UG)
• Advanced Studies of International Relations (UG)
• Comparative Political Economy (UG)
• Southeast Asian Politics (PG)
• Comparative Politics (PG)
• Research Methods for Area Studies (PG)
• Theories of International Relations (PG)
Student supervision and research collaboration
• For master and undergraduate students:
I am happy to discuss ideas with master and undergraduate students I have taught at Xiamen University. If you are thinking about me being your supervisor, please send me an email to make an appointment.
• For prospective PhD students:
I am supervising prospective PhD students who are interested in Southeast Asian politics and international relations. I particularly welcome students from Southeast Asia, or students who have previous training in quantitative methods or Southeast Asian language skills to apply. If you are interested, please write me an email with your CV and research proposal.
• For prospective post-doctoral researcher:
I invite applications for a Postdoctoral Fellow at Xiamen University. I welcome an independent and highly motivated social scientist with fieldwork and area expertise on one or more Southeast Asian countries. Scholars from a range of social science fields including international relations, comparative politics, political economy, political sociology, history, and data science are encouraged to apply. I especially welcome scholars from Southeast Asia, and those who are able to work across disciplinary boundaries and interested in the intersections between teaching, research, and policymaking in the Southeast Asian context.
Roles: The Fellow will primarily contribute to Xiamen University by conducting independent research and disseminating their findings through presentations, publications, policy briefs, and other forms of outreach. The Fellow is expected to be in residence at Xiamen University’s Siming campus where they can take advantage of the Collection on Southeast Asia in the library and participate in the lecture series in the School of International Relations and Research School for Southeast Asian Studies.
Requirements: Awardees must have earned the doctoral degree within three years of beginning their fellowship. Awardees may not simultaneously hold any other paid or unpaid position during the term of the appointment. Before starting their fellowship, candidates will be asked to confirm that their doctoral degree has been conferred.
How to Apply: At the first stage, please write me an email with your full CV and research proposal. You may also refer to Xiamen University's official website for postdoc (https://postdoctor.xmu.edu.cn/index.htm) for more information.
Personal website
For more information, you may refer to my personal website https://sites.google.com/view/zhaohuiwang
