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Hoffmann's
Research Focus: India-China Relations
Professor of Government Steve Hoffmann's research took him to India
and China during 2001 to complete work on a research project titled
"India-China Relations: U.S. Perceptions and Policy."
Jointly sponsored by the Asia Society of New York City and the Woodrow
Wilson Center of Washington, D.C., the project involved assessing
India-China relations as a basis for policy development and dialogue
with the two countries. Hoffmann is also one of 12 members of the
project's steering committee, which is co-chaired by former U.S.
Ambassadors Winston Lord (China) and Frank Wisner (India). The editors
of the planned research volume, to be derived from the project and
published during 2002-03, are Harry Harding, George Washington University,
and Francine Frankel, University of Pennsylvania.
Hoffmann's contribution is an analysis of the place China holds
in India's world view. He presented his research to members of the
Washington policy community before his group of chapter writers
and editors traveled last summer to India and China, where the drafted
material was presented both to scholars and government officials.
The American group did so by means of seminars that lasted up to
nine hours a day. Said Hoffmann wryly, "These seminars helped
me develop a real sympathy for my students." A wrap-up session
for Washington analysts and officials took place in late November
at the Woodrow Wilson Center.
In conversations with academic and governmental representatives
of both China and India, Hoffmann discovered that improved relations
between the world's two most populous countries is entirely possible.
There are a number of long-standing negatives between the two --
an unresolved border dispute; China's strong economic growth (as
compared to India's); and China's alliance with Pakistan, India's
worst enemy. But, says Hoffmann, "The world views of the two
countries coincide in significant ways since both are rising powers
having to deal with American world dominance. There are both problems
and tremendous opportunities for India in developing a relationship
with China, including some potential for collaboration."
The contrast among representatives meeting with the group of American
experts was interesting, says Hoffmann. "Although we met primarily
with defense and security people, in India, most of the representatives
were scholars -- some of whom were fairly independent in their thinking
and not total proponents of the government's policies. In China,
however, the scholars were strong advocates of government positions.
A Chinese vice foreign minister that we saw seemed to know everything
we'd said at sessions he had not attended -- and it felt as if he
were talking at us, instead of engaging in an academic exchange."
The announcement that Beijing had been selected as the location
of the 2008 Olympics was made on the night before Hoffmann's group
left Beijing. He observed "very lively celebrations following
the announcement, which was treated as a validation that China was
modern, advanced, and enough of a first-world nation to be able
to do this."
Hoffmann added, "As a group, we were overwhelmingly impressed
with all that China had done to make Beijing and Shanghai contemporary,
modern cities. But the old color of the cities seems to be disappearing.
Some of us wished that as India does the same thing for its major
cities, more slowly, much of their fascinating color and life can
be maintained."
Although the seminars were insightful, Hoffman reported that "some
of the best information I got was during dinner conversations."
He attended two banquets each in Shanghai and Beijing, and one each
in Delhi and Bangalore. A special guest at one of the Shanghai events
was former Carter Administration Treasury Secretary Michael Blumenthal.
At another dinner, Hoffman talked with an Indian diplomat who told
him that his book, titled India and the China Crisis (1990,
University of California Press), was most helpful to India's Ministry
of External Affairs in gaining domestic Indian support for a set
of treaties with China, signed in the 1990s, to promote "peace
and tranquillity" on the China/India border.
Hoffmann returned to India for much of January 2002 on a new research
mission. He spent the time in Delhi studying "The Role of the
Print Press in U.S.-India Relations," which he hopes to publish
as a book chapter.
Graham Ensemble Residency to Culminate in
Feb. 8 & 9 Performances
The Martha Graham Dance Ensemble, the performing troupe of the Martha
Graham School in New York City, will complete its weeklong Skidmore
residency (Feb. 3-10) with two dance concerts at the College's Dance
Theater. The performances will begin at 8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 8, and
Saturday, Feb. 9. General admission is $10, $8 for senior citizens
and members of the Skidmore community, and $5 for students. For
reservations, call 580-5392.
The program, which will be the same for both performances, will
showcase the ensemble's 10 young dancers in eight works created
in the Graham tradition by former premiere Graham dancers Yuriko,
Bertram Ross, Ethel Winter, Linda Hodes, Virginie Victoire Mencene,
and Kenneth Topping '84, the company's artistic director. Among
the program highlights will be Topping's Affirmation: A Dancer's
Ritual.
Besides the two dance performances, the company also presented three
master dance classes and a lecture-demonstration during its residency.
Topping performed with the Martha Graham Dance Company for 10 years
before directing the Graham junior troupe. Coming to Skidmore as
a pre-med major, he had never danced or even seen a dance concert
until a friend suggested he try a modern-dance class taught by Isabel
Brown. A natural, Topping learned Graham technique in classes with
Moss Cohen, a former Graham dancer then in residence at Skidmore.
After graduating Phi Beta Kappa, Topping joined the Graham company
and danced such major roles as Oedipus in Night Journey, the Minotaur
(Errand into the Maze), and the Preacher (Appalachian Spring).
The Martha Graham Dance Ensemble was founded by Graham dancer Yuriko
in 1983, at Graham's request, to bring fresh energy, passion, and
forward vision to the choreographer's brilliant tradition. As The
New York Times has noted, "These fresh young performers
bring to this distinctive style a welcome boldness and clarity."
The ensemble tours and performs the works of choreographers within
the Graham tradition and conducts outreach programs in New York
City public schools.
Credit Union Plans
Annual Meeting
The annual meeting of the Skidmore Employees Federal Credit Union
(SEFCU) will start at 4:45 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 13, in the Faculty-Staff
Club. All SEFCU members are welcome.
The agenda includes election of members to the board of directors.
The board is the legal guardian of SEFCU and is responsible for
the management and security of SEFCU funds. Board meetings take
place monthly.
Founded in 1974, SEFCU currently has 1,018 members and assets in
excess of $5 million. The organization offers a wide range of savings
and loan plans, including free share draft (checking) accounts,
and payroll withdrawal for savings. Membership is open to all members
of the Skidmore community and their families.
SEFCU is located on the first floor of Dana Hall, near the purchasing
office. Hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily.
Skidmore Intercom
Skidmore College
815 North Broadway
Saratoga Springs, NY 12866
518.580.5000
intercom@skidmore.edu
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