On the afternoon of May 8, the 11th sharing and exchange event of “Dongming Book House” was held in the Dongming Discussion Room of the Library. Li Anshan, Professor at the School of International Studies of PKU, Honorary President of the Chinese Society for African Historical Studies and Foreign Member of the Academy of the Kingdom of Morocco, served as the keynote speaker and exchanged views with participating students on his latest work “The Global South: A Chinese Perspective”.
On the afternoon of May 8, the 11th sharing session of the “Dongming Book House” was held in the Dongming Discussion Room of the Library, School of International Studies, Peking University.
Co-hosted by the Communist Youth League Committee of the School of International Studies and the Institute for Global Cooperation and understanding of Peking University, the event invited Li Anshan, Professor at the School of International Studies, Honorary President of the Chinese Society for African Historical Studies, and Foreign Member of the Academy of the Kingdom of Morocco, as the keynote speaker. He shared in-depth insights and exchanged ideas with participants on his latest work The Global South: A Chinese Perspective. Wang Dong, Professor at the School of International Studies and Executive Director of the iGCU, Sha Zongping, Associate Professor at the Department of Philosophy and Deputy Director of the African Studies Center, Li Ruixuan, Secretary of the Communist Youth League Committee of the School, as well as more than ten students from the School attended the session.
The session unfolded in a relaxed and pleasant atmosphere. Combining his academic career, Professor Li Anshan talked about the origin of the book. He recalled his field research in Ghana back in 1992. Life and archival studies in Africa enabled him to truly understand the historical conditions of developing countries and recognize the limitations of Eurocentric narratives. He encouraged young students to take interest as the primary driving force of academic research, conduct field investigations, attach importance to first-hand materials, uphold independent thinking and critical spirit, and never follow Western theories blindly.
Later, Professor Li systematically interpreted the core ideas of the book from five aspects: redefining globalization, clarifying the concept of the Global South, analyzing the relationship between the Global South and globalization, reflecting on global governance, and exploring the strategic significance of the Global South to China. He pointed out that mainstream Eurocentric narratives of globalization are one-sided and ideologically biased. Globalization is not a unidirectional expansion led by the West, but a long historical process of integration through cross-regional and cross-national exchanges and interdependence among human societies across civilizations and regions. The Global South is not a simplistic and homogeneous label, but an independent entity with shared historical experiences, common practical aspirations, a strong sense of solidarity and distinct identity. Born out of globalization, the Global South is never a passive recipient, but an active shaper and reformer of globalization. United efforts of the Global South serve as a core driving force to build a fairer, more inclusive and multipolar global governance system. As an important member of the Global South, China will always promote South-South cooperation through equal dialogue and mutually beneficial collaboration, and contribute Chinese wisdom and solutions to global governance.
During the comment session, Associate Professor Sha Zongping summarized Professor Li’s distinctive academic paradigms and research methods, affirming their great reference value for young scholars. Professor Wang Dong congratulated Professor Li on the publication of his new book and his election as Foreign Member of the Academy of the Kingdom of Morocco. He remarked that the book adheres to a distinct Chinese perspective, breaks the monopoly of Western discourse, and stands as a landmark achievement in domestic research on the Global South, providing a profound and practical theoretical framework for academic circles.
In the Q&A session, students raised active questions concerning Africa’s positioning, China’s international identity and internal diversities within the Global South. Professor Li answered each question in detail, stating that seeking solidarity amid differences is the core logic for the development of the Global South, and encouraging students to further explore relevant cooperation mechanisms.
At the end of the activity, Professor Li Anshan signed books for the students and took a group photo with all teachers and students. This session not only helped students gain a thorough understanding of the Global South, but also deepened their comprehension of the ethics and integrity that a scholar should uphold in academic pursuit, career development and personal conduct.
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