The 2008 Beijing Olympic Games: Public Diplomacy Triumph or Public Relations Spectacle?

The symposium will bring together scholars and practitioners to share research insights on China's public diplomacy strategies and the impact of these games on perceptions of China's soft power resources and global attitudes towards a rising China.

The 2008 Beijing Olympic Games: "Public Diplomacy Triumph or Public Relations Spectacle?

The symposium will bring together scholars and practitioners to share research insights on China's public diplomacy strategies and the impact of these games on perceptions of China's soft power resources and global attitudes towards a rising China.

Public Conference
Friday, January 30, 2009
Town and Gown
University of Southern California

8:00-8:45           
Registration and continental breakfast

9:00-9:15        
Welcome: Geoffrey Wiseman, Director, USC Center on Public Diplomacy
                         
9:15-10:45      
Panel 1: China's International Goals for the Olympics
Chair:  Pat James, Center for International Studies, USC
Panelists:
• Jeffrey Wasserstrom, History, UC Irvine
• Xu Xin, China & Asia-Pacific Studies, Cornell University
• Shen Dingli, Center for American Studies, Fudan University
• Discussant: Daniel Lynch, School of International Relations, USC

10:45-11:00    
Coffee break

11:00-12:30      
Panel 2: The Domestic Political Ramifications of the Beijing Olympic Games
Chair and Discussant: Stanley Rosen, Professor of Political Science, USC
Panelists:
• Susan Brownell, Author, Beijing's Games: What the Olympics Mean to China
• Jian Wang, Annenberg School for Communication, USC

12:45-2:00      
Luncheon:
Introductory Remarks: Barry Sanders, Chairman, Southern California Committee for the Olympic Games
Presentations by 
•Janet Evans
Former USC athlete, winner of four gold medals and a silver at the 1988 and 1992 Olympics, one of her three world records still stands
•Larsen Jensen
Former USC athlete, silver medalist in 2004 and bronze medalist in 2008

2:15-3:45           
Panel 3:  The Economic Significance of the Beijing Olympic Games
Chair: Clayton Dube, U.S.-China Institute, USC
Panelists:
• Jeffrey G. Owen, Economics and Management, Gustavus Adolphus College
• Kelly Crabb, International Counsel, Beijing Olympic Organizing Committee
• Discussant: Baizhu Chen, Marshall School of Business, USC

3:45-4:00           
Coffee break

4:00-5:30           
Panel 4:  The Role of the Media in the Beijing Olympic Games
Moderator: Dan Durbin, Annenberg School of Communication, USC
Panelists:
• Kate Merkel-Hess, Co-Editor, China in 2008: A Year of Great Significance; Editor, The China Beat blog
• Barbara Walkosz, Communication, University of Colorado at Denver

5:45-7:00           
Reception
University Club
University of Southern California

All sessions will be free and open to USC students, staff, and faculty as well as members of the general public. Register for the event via the CPD website.

Parking on the USC Campus is $8. Please enter campus through Gate 3 on Figueroa St. and McCarthy Way and purchase parking for Parking Structure X. Click here for an interactive map.

An Issues Brief will be produced shortly after the symposium and will be widely distributed.

Please contact cpdevent@usc.edu with questions or visit www.uscpublicdiplomacy.org for more information.