On June 21, 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 6th lecture of “Area Studies: Origins, Dilemmas, Key Concepts and Future Development” to doctoral students of IIAS, under the topic of “Regimes, Societies and Economies: Comparing Regime-Types and their Economic Foundations”.

First of all, Prof. Niblock reviewed the impact of identity politics and historical heritage on national changes and policies from the previous lecture. Then, he began to discuss the social and economic dynamics of a state and raised a few questions: What caused the “state” to behave like this? Who really control the country and decide what kind of policy?

After that, the professor explained the concept, history and framework of a state, and distinguished and interpreted the social and economic groups, political form, ruling class, distribution of economic benefits and policy formation within a state. He pointed out that the relationship between state and economy/society includes four basic types: state-controlled economy, weakest state control, state-assisted capitalism and state-led capitalism.

Finally, Prof. Niblock encouraged the faculty and students of IIAS to focus on the types of economic/societal relations between countries in Africa, South Asia and Southeast Asia, and give corresponding cases and reasons. The event ended in warm discussion.

By Cheng Yao & Wang Tingyi