Meet our Researchers: In Conversation with Professor Yiqing Xu
Meet our Researchers: In Conversation with Professor Yiqing Xu
We sat down with Professor Xu to learn more about his journey into academia, his passion for uncovering truths through data, and his advice for aspiring researchers.
As a SCCEI Faculty Affiliate and Assistant Professor at Stanford University, Yiqing Xu is reshaping how scholars understand governance and politics in China. Combining a deep commitment to rigorous data analysis with a passion for exploring complex political phenomena, Xu’s research tackles some of the most pressing issues in China’s society and beyond.
Since SCCEI’s launch in 2020, Professor Xu has become an essential member of the team. He is part of the SCCEI Seminar Committee, helping to identify emerging China scholars and bring them to Stanford to engage with our community, as well as a key contributor to several other committees and Center happenings. In Winter 2024, Professor Xu taught a new course on Chinese Politics & Society, where he opened up a portion of the course to the public to offer weekly lectures by top China scholars, each providing an evidence-based perspective on institutions and trends shaping modern China.
With all that Professor Xu is doing in his career and within SCCEI, we thought it time to learn more about his journey into academia, his passion for uncovering truths through data, and his advice for aspiring researchers.
The Journey to Becoming a Researcher
Q: What inspired you to pursue getting a PhD and becoming a professor and researcher?
A: During my undergraduate years, two books greatly influenced me: Liang Shuming's dialogue collection, Will This World Be Good?, and Li Shenzhi's, Fifty Years of Turmoil and Transformation. Liang's dedication to addressing China's issues deeply resonated with me, while Li's pursuit of truth, even in his later years, inspired my commitment to revealing facts amidst noise.
My interest in political methodology stems from my experience analyzing data. In the first year of my PhD program, I realized for the first time how good data analysis can compellingly uncover the truth while working with a large repository of close-election data. For this reason, I disagree with the sentiment that “statistics always lie”—if statistical analysis is approached seriously, it doesn’t. I am therefore deeply committed to making data analysis more transparent and reliable.
Making the Complex Clear
Q: If you met someone who knew absolutely nothing about you, your research, or political methodology and comparative politics, how would you describe the work that you do and why you do it?
A: I would summarize it in two bullet points:
- I build tools to help other researchers establish causal links between factor A and factor B using data. This is usually very difficult without conducting randomized experiments, but the field that I’m part of has made much progress.
- I use data—both experimental and non-experimental, sometimes in massive amounts—to study different aspects of politics and governance issues in China. To give a few examples: how kinship networks saved possibly millions of lives during the Great Leap Famine, what motivates local bureaucrats to respond to citizen needs, and what the ideological landscape of the Chinese public looks like.
Understanding CCP Propaganda in the Digital Age
Q: Can you share a bit about one of your recent studies?
A: A recent project I’m very excited about explores how the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) adapts its propaganda strategies in the era of digital media. This is a collaborative effort with Yingdan Lu (Northwestern University), Jen Pan (Stanford University and SCCEI faculty), and Xu Xu (Princeton University). We find that the CCP mobilized tens of thousands of local cadres to engage in what we call “decentralized propaganda,” aiming to occupy the short-video media space and push its narrative.
The paper is currently under peer review, and we will release a public version soon.
SCCEI produced a brief based off of Professor Xu's research, with collaborators Jennifer Pan and Xu Xu, titled "China Has Laws Banning Political Activism. Why Charge Critics with Non-Political Crimes?" Read the brief here for a synthesized recap of some of his newest research discoveries.
Advice for Aspiring Researchers
Q: Lastly, do you have any advice to give to a younger person just beginning to explore pursuing research as a career?
A: I think the most important factor is motivation—the drive to pursue unknown facts (mostly, out of curiosity) and the willingness to change your mind when evidence contradicts prior knowledge and beliefs. It is a grinding journey, and the opportunity cost is high. In the end, it is motivation that sustains the effort.
Through his innovative research and dedication to revealing truths through data, Professor Yiqing Xu is not only advancing our understanding of Chinese politics but also equipping future scholars with tools to tackle complex questions. SCCEI is honored to work with Professor Xu and continue to build a platform that inspires and supports emerging China scholars.
