RGS PUBLIC LECTURE: CHINA'S PRESENT DAY GEOPOLITICAL PROBLEMS

September 20, 2022

15th September saw the welcome return of the school’s intellectual lecture series hosted on our site, with the first talk run by the East of England branch of the Royal Geographical Society (RGS).

 The pertinent topic of the talk was entitled “China’s present day geopolitical problems” and was delivered by Asia expert Dr Bill Hayton. He was ideally qualified to lead us, with long experience in this field, as a former BBC journalist, Associate Fellow at Chatham House and the Editor of Asian Affairs
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 Dr Hayton’s engaging and thought-provoking lecture followed the extensive research that he conducted on Chinese history and politics for his book, The Invention of China (2020). He spoke of China’s historical relationships with the peoples on its frontiers – particularly in Manchuria, Mongolia, Tibet and Xinjiang – and of difficulties delineating precisely where the new Republic of China’s borders lay after the revolution that toppled the Qing Dynasty. Dr Hayton contended that the People’s Republic of China inherited these difficulties, and that they greatly influence Asian and global geopolitics today
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 A lively Q&A followed from the large and appreciative audience of school pupils (studiously taking copious notes!), staff, members and fellow of the RGS, members of the public, friends of the school and ONs. There was an opportunity to meet with the speaker afterwards over refreshments
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 The next lecture from the RGS here on site is entitled The Atlas of Geographical Curiosities by acclaimed Ukrainian author Vitali Vitaliev, billed as a compendium of interesting, unexpected and downright bizarre geographical anomalies that are guaranteed to delight and inspire. This takes place at 19:30 on
8th November in the Blake Studio. All are welcome.
 
 For those reluctant to wait that long for intellectual stimulation, we are thrilled to be hosting the Norfolk Contemporary Arts Society (NCAS) whose talk will be delivered by Hélène Binet on her photographic work. Over a period of more than 35 years, she has captured both contemporary and historic architecture, her work being published in a wide range of books, and displayed in numerous museums. This will take place on
Wednesday, 21 September 2022 from 19:00 in the Blake Studio. All with an interest in the creative arts are very welcome.

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