How did you hear about the China Studies Review and what drew you
to apply to the Editor in Chief position?
I heard about the China Studies Review (CSR) after a good friend of mine
made me aware of the journal and the editorial position. I set up a meeting
with the previous editor-in-chief and asked her about the responsibilities of
the role, the scope of the challenges, and the experience of working as a
managing editor. As I learned more about the position, I grew fascinated with
the prospect of managing the publication myself and submitted my application to
be the next editor-in-chief shortly after our meeting.
You wrote last year for the SAIS Observer at the HNC. How does the
CSR differ from the SAIS Observer?
If I had to differentiate between the two, I would focus on
the differences we have in scope and timeline. The SAIS Observer is a
journalistic publication, with the advantages and disadvantages inherent in the
short time constraints of journalism. It gives writers the capacity to work on
the most pressing issues of the day, with the caveat that each day brings new
issues to the table.
At the China Studies Review, we focus on scholarly
publications with an eye for the general reader. This means embracing the
highest quality of analysis our student body has to offer, while never losing
sight of what this insight means for the intelligent reader who might only have
a marginal understanding of Chinese issues. Our work is made to endure, with
the months-long process of submitting, editing, and refining pieces to ensure
that we reach this goal.
Has this helped you stay connected with Chinese issues while in
DC? Do you still have a fairly international group of contributors like at the
HNC?
Working with the China Studies Review has absolutely helped to
keep me connected with Chinese issues in DC. The record number of submissions
we received this year allowed me to understand the breadth of China studies
across all SAIS campuses. With submissions ranging from the treatment of
Burmese refugees in Yunnan Province to policy recommendations for the Belt and
Road Initiative to studies of the black experience within China, I’ve never had
the chance to engage with Chinese issues from such a broad range of
perspectives as I have in this role.
When it comes to contributors and editors, it had been a key part of
my earliest plans to ensure that CSR did not represent a single national
viewpoint. Not only was our editorial team equally divided between Americans
and Chinese nationals, but our articles in both print and online publication
reflect the diversity of students at SAIS. We welcome viewpoints and voices
that have been historically underrepresented. In the words of the Daoist sage
Zhuangzi, “You cannot discuss the ocean with a frog trapped within a well; he’s
trapped by his perspective.” (井蛙不可语于海者，拘于虚也). Only by listening to writers and analysts outside the confines of
our own little wells can we understand the ocean’s greater truth.
Do students in Nanjing have access to the CSR? Can they contribute
to the publication?
Yes, students in Nanjing have access to CSR here, with
our latest issue available here. When the HNC reopens, we will
ensure that physical copies of the journal are available on campus. HNC
students can definitely contribute to the publication. In fact, one of our
strongest articles in the 2020 edition, titled “Two Paths to the
Arctic”, was written by an HNC MAIS student. I welcome more publications
by HNC students within the China Studies Review, and any students that would be
interested in pitching ideas for online publication can feel free to reach out
to me at mcolell3@jhu.edu.
What is your advice for current students interested in
writing/editing for the CSR?
For students interested in writing for the CSR, my recommendation
is to create the best possible work in class. If you focus your attention upon
an area of research that deeply matters to you, one in which you can spend the
extra time to familiarize yourself with the relevant bodies of literature,
collect the necessary data sets, and create outstanding analysis, your work
will be an excellent candidate for publication in the China Studies Review.
When it comes to editing, there are two qualities that stand out
above all others. First, an editor must have a strong command of the written
word. Only then can they understand what we should cut, and what we need to
keep within the piece. Second, an editor must be a diplomat. As editors our job
is auxiliary, we help the writer truly express what it is that they mean to
say.
Other thoughts?
When I look at the work done on the China Studies Review in 2020,
it’s clear that we’ve raised the profile of our publication, published more
demanding forms of analysis, and created an online presence for the CSR that it
did not have before. However, I still see this as the early stages of our
journal. In looking for the next editor-in-chief, I want to ensure that the
China Studies Review continues to improve, and contributors continue to submit high
quality articles.
Interview conducted by Cady Deck, Certificate ’19 + Johns Hopkins SAIS MA
‘20
