The French Centre for Research on Contemporary China
The French Centre for Research on Contemporary China (CEFC) was founded in 1991 as a publicly financed research institute, based in Hong Kong. A branch office was opened in Taipei in 1994. The CEFC's mission is to study political, economic, and social developments in the People's Republic of China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Macau. The CEFC currently houses five researchers (two of them seconded from the French National Centre for Scientific Research, CNRS) and five research fellows. The CEFC is helped in its work by an advisory council made up of academics and researchers, which meets each year in Paris.
Research department
The CEFC will be pleased to help researchers and doctoral students who are passing through Hong Kong or Taiwan by offering them access to its various research resources.
Both in Hong Kong and Taipei the CEFC can make available to them:
- A social science library, in French, English, and Chinese, of more than 700 books on the People's Republic of China, Hong Kong, and Macau (at the CEFC in Hong Kong), and on Taiwan (at the Taipei branch). In addition, we subscribe to more than forty periodicals and newspapers, most of them in English and Chinese.
- An archive of press cuttings (in French, English, and Chinese) on more than 150 subjects, going back to 1995. To aid research, each subject is cross-referenced under chronological or thematic headings.
The Taipei branch also keeps a computerized database listing more than 600 articles on Taiwan selected from the leading Taiwanese and Western social science journals. These articles are all available at the Centre.
Doctoral studies
- We organize regular seminars for PhD candidates based Hong Kong and visiting students alike. During these meetings, students are given the opportunity to discuss their own thesis in progress, as well as articles in preparation for the CEFC's journal, China Perspectives. These seminars are organized by François Gipouloux in Hong Kong and Fiorella Allio in Taiwan.
- We can help students to get into contact with local specialists in their field of research.
Organization of seminars and conferences
- We organize regular seminars in co-operation with other local research centres:
- In Hong Kong mainly with the Centre of Asian Studies at the University of Hong Kong and with the Universities Service Centre of the Chinese University of Hong Kong;
- In Taiwan with the Sun Yat-sen Institute of Social Sciences and Philosophy, Academia Sinica.
We also invite visiting scholars (whether established researchers or doctoral students) to present their research both in Hong Kong and Taipei. If you wish to be one of them, please contact Jean-Pierre Cabestan in Hong Kong or Fiorella Allio in Taiwan.
- Every year the CEFC organizes or co-organizes international conferences on contemporary China.
Recent and forthcoming conferences include:
'The Development of Contemporary Taiwan and Its Implications for Cross-Straits Relations, the Asia-Pacific Region and Europe', Taipei, Taiwan, December 16th-17th, 1998.
'The Emergence and the Structuring of Corporate Groups in the People's Republic of China: an International Perspective', Hong Kong, November 4th-5th 1999.
'The Relations Between the Centre and the Periphery on the Eve of the Third Millennium: Integration, Disintegration or Reshaping of an Empire?', Hong Kong, March 24th-25th, 2000.
China Perspectives
Already in its fourth year, China Perspectives, the English-language edition of the French scholarly bi-monthly journal Perspectives Chinoises published by the centre since 1992, has a lot to do with the growing reputation of the CEFC. China Perspectives combines academic authority and integrity with a refreshing lack of stuffiness to provide highly readable and in-depth analyses of the underlying causes and implications of events as they happen in 'Greater China'.
Contributors to China Perspectives represent a wide range of expertise, both Asian and Western, truly reflecting the promise of the title. The bi-monthly publication schedule allows China Perspectives to follow events closely and remain topical while avoiding the temptations of instant journalism. Needless to say, the fact that China Perspectives is published from right within the heart of the region is a distinct advantage. China Perspectives can be discovered on the CEFC's website. Online readers will enjoy free access to a wide and ever-expanding selection of its articles at http://www.cefc.com.hk
Call for papers
China Perspectives is an externally refereed journal, whose aim is to provide regular in-depth and up-to-date coverage of 'Greater China' (China, Hong Kong, Taiwan). China Perspectives welcomes articles in English from informed observers of the region, whether they be established researchers, PhD candidates, or participants in its economic, political, or cultural life. Please also note that articles submitted to this journal will be republished in French in Perspectives Chinoises.
Such contributions should not have been published before and, as a general rule, should not exceed 8,000 words in length. Guidelines on how to prepare manuscripts for publication can be obtained on people's request at cefc@hkstar.com
Researchers
Current researchers and research programmes at the CEFC are:- Jean-Pierre Cabestan Director of the CEFC and director of publication of China Perspectives
The reform of the political and legal systems in the People's Republic of China (PRC). Relations between Taiwan and the PRC: political and diplomatic aspects.
E-mail: cabestan@hkstar.com
- François Gipouloux
Research programme director and chief editor of China Perspectives
The role of China's coastal cities in the network of port cities
in East Asia.
E-mail: gipouloux@ehess.fr
- Fiorella Allio
Director of the Taipei office of the CEFC and deputy-editor of
China Perspectives
Local politics, socio-religious organizations in Taiwan.
E-mail: cefc@gate.sinica.edu.tw
- Jean-François Huchet
Researcher and deputy-editor of China Perspectives
The reform of state-owned enterprises and the structuring of
industrial groups.
E-mail: jfhuchet@hkstar.com
- Eric Sautedé
Researcher and editor of China Perspectives
Democratic transition in East Asia: national identity, elections,
and citizenship in Taiwan and South Korea.
E-mail: esautede@cefc.hk
- Nicolas Becquelin
Research fellow
Thesis in preparation: 'Relations between the Centre and the
Periphery - The case of the autonomous region of Xinjiang'.
E-mail: nicolasb@hkstar.com
- Philippe Chevalérias
Research fellow
Thesis in preparation: 'Taiwanese investments in China'.
E-mail: cefcetud@hkstar.com
- Raphaël Jacquet
Research fellow
Thesis in preparation: 'From Refugee to Citizen: the emergence of
a political community. The case of Hong Kong (1967-1997)'.
E-mail: rjacquet@hkstar.com
- Pierre Miege
Research fellow
Thesis in preparation: 'The new role of the Danwei since the
beginning of the economic reforms in China: 1978-1998'
E-mail: cefcetud@hkstar.com
- Véronique Poisson
Research fellow
Thesis in preparation: 'Crossing borders - Case study on
the Zhejiang diaspora'.
E-mail: vpoisson@hkstar.com
For further information:
HONG KONG
CEFC - CHINA PERSPECTIVES
Room 304, Yu Yuet Lai Building
43-55 Wyndham Street, Central
Hong Kong.
Tel.: +852-2815 1728
Fax: +852-2815 3211
E-mail: cefc@hkstar.com
http://www.cefc.com.hk
TAIWAN
CEFC &endash; CHINA PERSPECTIVES
P.O. Box 48-477, Taipei, Taiwan
Tel.: +886-2-2789 0873
Fax: +886-2-2789 0874
E-mail: cefc@gate.sinica.edu.tw