Bringing a global perspective to the classroom

As a young man during China’s Cultural Revolution of the 1960s and 1970s, Associate Professor of Economics G. James Wen was sent to be a farm laborer in the northern province of Manchuria. During the long winter nights, he read to occupy his mind and pass the time. He read texts on Western social sciences and philosophy and even classics of literature like A Tale of Two Cities and Les Miserables. He could safely read these books, which were then viewed as counter-revolutionary, because they were in English, a language unfamiliar to the local farmers and authorities. To protect himself, he spread the word that he was reading English translations of Marx, Engels, and other acceptable authors. Earlier in his life, Wen had considered a career as a scientist, but his life experiences and extensive reading on the social sciences made economics much more compelling. How did the dire poverty he witnessed come about? How could China do better?  

Today, a resident expert on development economics, agricultural economics, and the economies of East Asia, particularly China, Wen calls on his experiences during the Cultural Revolution to address these issues.

He is the former president of the Chinese Economists Society and a frequent guest on Voice of America broadcasts. He recently co-edited two books: WTO and China, Developing Through Globalizing, released this September, and The Globalization of the Chinese Economy, due out early next year. He has also written a chapter on the relationship between the United States and China for a newly published book called Constrained Engagement. 

Wen’s contributions to Trinity have been equally impressive. He has developed a number of new courses for the economics and Asian studies curricula and through his personal and professional connections has brought to campus Chinese government officials and scholars from some of China’s most prestigious educational institutions. Associate Professor of Economics Andrew Gold, who chairs the economics department, says, “James brings a broadening of the educational experience—both to the department and the College as a whole—about a part of the world that’s enormously important.”

An effective teacher

Wen has found that one of his most effective teaching tools is his first-hand knowledge of the economic and social dynamics on which he lectures. He notes, “I find that if I combine the teaching with some of my personal experiences—my personal stories—the students pay more attention.” His goal is to show students that economics goes beyond pure theories in books and can in fact connect to realities of life. Well-intentioned but poorly conceived economic policies, Wen says, can result in such disasters as China’s Great Famine.

“Students are constantly exposed to a lot of ideas, but they don’t know what kinds of consequences will be associated with these ideas,” he says. “And so I think that it’s important that the lessons China learned will not be lost to the younger generation.”

Gavin O’Reilly ’03, an economics major who took Wen’s “Development Economics” course last spring, notes that by sharing his personal experiences—some serious, some humorous—Wen draws students in and makes himself very accessible.

“Not only does this make class more enjoyable, but it also prevents students from becoming frustrated when learning difficult material,” O’Reilly says. O’Reilly praises Wen’s well-organized lectures, which are complemented by the use of charts, graphs, and outlines designed to “appeal to students’ visual learning capabilities.” 

An ambassador

When he came to Trinity in 1994, Wen found an institution that was eager to expand its connections with East Asia. Wen accompanied former president Evan Dobelle on an outreach trip to Hong Kong in early 1996 and helped establish a relationship with Shenzhen University. Wen travels to China once or twice a year to ensure that his teaching and research are up-to-date and well grounded. On these trips, he continues to make connections with prominent institutions, exploring possibilities for exchange programs for both students and instructors. 

Here at Trinity, Wen has facilitated visits of distinguished guests, including the president of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, representatives from the Consulate General of the People’s Republic of China, and the Chinese delegation to the Security Council of the U.N. In early October, the College hosted a visit from the president and the director of foreign affairs of Fudan University in Shanghai.

Wen, who was born and raised in Shanghai, says, “I graduated from Fudan, and I’m very glad that I can play a role to bridge these two institutions.” Wen received his master’s degree from Fudan when Chinese universities reopened at the end of the Cultural Revolution. Wen is thrilled that Trinity recognizes the extraordinary opportunities presented by such East-West connections.

“China is now at a critical crossroad,” he says. “I think it is desirable to have more students studying China at Trinity or working in China and participating in the transformation of its society that is currently taking place.”

Citing a recent New York Times article, Wen observes that in 20 or 30 years China is expected to be the world’s largest economic entity in terms of total GNP and that China’s recent embrace of the World Trade Organization and willingness to open its vast market are milestones. “For 150 years, the whole world was knocking on China’s door,” he says. “Now China is taking the initiative and is opening the door. East Asia is poised to play an increasingly important role in the world. And I think that a growing number of Trinity College students may find it fulfilling to choose a career in which they can help China—or that part of the world—to develop smoothly.”

–Leslie Virostek