“China’s rise” has been a subject of great debate and misunderstanding since the term was coined to explain the rapid economic growth and growing political influence of the PRC since the 1980s. Policymakers and international media outlets have grappled with these complex and interconnected issues, understanding of which requires significant research experience, methods training, and local knowledge and networks.

Policymakers and journalists need to hear from independent voices willing to rigorously research, transparently defend, and openly document the most pressing geopolitical and social issues of the 21st century. There is, therefore, an urgent need for independent scholarly research on politics, economy, and society in contemporary China that provides rigorous, academically informed work in accessible forms. 

The International Network for Critical China Studies (INCCS) fills these knowledge gaps by publishing detailed policy reports by academic experts and  hosting research-based workshops that ask the big and difficult questions about "China's rise."