The world has been coming to China in an increasing rate since the days of Deng Xiaoping and the opening of the country’s doors in 1978. Since then, China’s rise to economic and political power has been nothing less than historic. China’s rise has corresponded with its ambitions globally. It hosted the Olympic Games in 2008 in its nation’s capital for all to marvel in its glory and will organize the 2010 world expo. China is the most populous nation in the world, second largest economy in purchasing power terms, third largest trader, and gaining grounds in foreign direct investments and M&A, and international resource acquisitions. The development of the Chinese MNC is a new feature of globalization, one that will undoubtedly change the geopolitical landscape. Our research project China Goes GlobalTM investigates some emerging questions related to China’s globalization:

Why do Chinese firms internationalize, how do they do so, and what is the impact of Chinese firms and institutions internationalization with a specific focus on the United States and Germany? The aim of this project is to answer, among others, those questions. Through contacts available from Rollins College China Center and the Asia Programs of the Ash Institute from Harvard University, we have identify and interview China experts from government, industry and educational fields. Additionally, we compile and analyze data on Chinese internationalization that has shed light on the phenomenon in question and provide recommendations to policy makers, business executives and researchers.

Given the sponsors requirements, particular attention is given to the impacts of Chinese globalization on the American and German societies and economies. There is an ongoing shift of power from the West to the East and we are in the midst of it. What are the consequences of these power shifts? How do they affect developed, democratic societies and economies, in contrast to developing countries? What spillovers occur from Chinese investment?

Until now, there are only a few publications focusing on the expansion and activities of Chinese firms abroad. With the project ChinaGoes GlobalTM , Potsdam University, Rollins College, and Harvard University conduct a collaborative research initiative to analyze the structure and the inherent problems of this topic, and to give answers to these questions from a variety of stakeholders’ perspectives - corporate, governmental and non-governmental decision makers as well as researchers.