By Simon Isham—

U of L, in collaboration with the Asian studies program, is currently hosting the 19th annual Association of Chinese Professors of Social Sciences International Conference in the Seelbach Hilton in downtown Louisville. This year’s theme is “The Impacts of Leadership Transition in China: Domestic and International Concerns.”

The opening ceremony occurred tonight. It was attended by more than 40 scholars and students from China and the U.S. Many of the attendees will be presenting in bilingual panel sessions themselves between now and Sunday morning. Sessions include:

  • China in Power Transition and Social Transformation
  • China’s Engagement with the World: New Perspectives
  • The Chinese Nation from Historical Perspectives
  • Civil Development in China: Retrospect and Prospect
  • Perspectives on Environment, Education and Rural Development
  • Women and Their Lives in Globalized Society
  • Chinese Culture Interacting with the World
  • Culture, Literature and Society
  • Political Economy, Market, the Role of Government, and Community Development
  • Educational Reform and Theory-Building: A Historical and Comparative Perspective
  • Chinese Criminology, Legal Culture and New Development
  • Cyberspace, Arts and Mass Communication

U of L professor, Asian Studies Chairman and ACPSS Vice-President Shiping Hua delivered some opening remarks on the conference. “Usually (ACPSS) runs one international conference,” he said, “but this year we’re running two. We’re happy to be running two.”

Interim Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences John Ferre, was also present at the event. He introduced the Seelbach and the city of Louisville to the distinguished guests from out of town and overseas. Some of the facets he highlighted were:

  • Infamous gangster Al Capone liked to stay and gamble at the historic hotel.
  • F. Scott Fitzgerald’s character Daisy Fay in the book “The Great Gatsby” had her marriage to Tom Buchanan performed at the Seelbach.
  • One of the 50 best bars in the country is located in the Seelbach.
  • The Louisville Slugger Museum and factory

Dr. Wei Hu, a professor at Shanghai Jiao Tong University, was the keynote speaker at the event, and delivered its first full lecture. He was introduced as an advocate for Asian democracy.

“There is stronger and stronger ideological movement against democracy in China. We must ask ourselves if we need democracy at all. Then we must ask ourselves what (kind of) democracy do we need?” he said.

Hu delivered the remainder of his presentation in Chinese.

The event was followed by a traditional dinner, served at Yaching’s East West Cuisine.