Leaning toward the Centers: International Networking at China’s Five C9 League Universities

Scholarly relations between developed and developing countries have long been characterized by imbalances and asymmetries. The “centers” in the North give direction, provide models, produce research and function as the pinnacles of the academic system while institutions in developing countries copy their development from the “centers.” Recently, the academic world is becoming more multi-polarized, forcing a reconsideration of traditional concepts and theories. China is a good example. One effective approach has been to actively engage with the international community. This article reviews international networking at five C9 League universities. It finds that Chinese universities benefit from global engagement, with an imbalance between their engagement with developed and developing countries. As Chinese power rises, such an imbalance appears increasingly inappropriate.