Jeffrey Zhao

Profile

I am a PhD student researching the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation’s role in diffusing illiberal norms and illiberal challenges to the liberal international order. My doctoral research is funded by the POLIS Politics of Global Challenges International Scholarship.

I am a seminar leader for the undergraduate module, Politics of Contemporary China (PIED 2448), for the 2024 academic term.

I graduated from the Hopkins-Nanjing Center, the Johns Hopkins University–Nanjing University Center for Chinese and American Studies, with a master’s in international studies, where I received an Outstanding Thesis Award for the research analysing illiberal norm alignment among non-Western powers.

In addition, I have experience in policy research, government affairs, journalism, debate coaching, and field research in Xinjiang and Yunnan, China. I also advanced to the World University Debate Championship (WUDC) EFL Semi-Finals in 2022.

Research interests

My research interests reside in norm contestation, authoritarian organisations, and the multiplicity of illiberal ideals.

 

Membership:

The Centre for Democratic Politics

 

Journal Article

Non-Western Middle Powers and Transitional Order. Global Studies Quarterly. “Transitional Orders in World Politics” [Under Review]

 

Conference Presentation

‘Explaining the Popularity of Anti-Regime Chinese Youtubers through Narrative Policy Framework: A Set-Theoretic Approach’. University of Central Lancashire. Conference of Joint East Asian Studies Conferences. 26-27 June

‘Norm Linkage and Norm Package: How the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Coordinated Its Members’ Responses to Russia’s Military Interventions’. Université Catholique de Lille. European International Studies Association Pan-European Conference. 26-31 August

 

Qualifications

• Master in International Studies, Johns Hopkins University & Nanjing University (Joint Degree)
• Bachelor of History, Shaanxi Normal University