INCCS Launches New Website to Advance Independent, Policy-Relevant Research on China

Dec 24, 2024

The International Network for Critical China Studies (INCCS), a global scholarly initiative led by Dr. David Tobin of the University of Sheffield, has officially launched its new website, creating a central platform for critical, independent, and policy-relevant research on contemporary China. The launch brings together researchers from around the world who examine China’s politics, economy, society, culture, and its growing global impact through rigorous, evidence-based scholarship.

INCCS positions itself as a response to increasingly polarized and simplified debates surrounding China’s rise. As international policymakers and media outlets grapple with complex questions about China’s influence, governance, and global behavior, the network aims to bridge the gap between academic research and policy discussions. Its new website highlights this mission by making scholarly work accessible to policymakers, journalists, civil society organizations, and the broader public.

The platform features INCCS’s expanding portfolio of policy-focused research. Among its highlighted publications is Preventing Transnational Repression: the Case of the Uyghur Diaspora, authored by David Tobin and Nyrola Elimä, which analyzes how governments, civil society, and diaspora communities respond to Chinese state coercion and surveillance beyond China’s borders. Another key study, Making Islam Chinese: Religious Policy and Mosque Sinicisation in the Xi Era by Hannah Theaker and David Stroup, examines the impact of state religious policy on Hui Muslim communities and mosque architecture under Xi Jinping’s leadership.

In addition to publications, the website will serve as a hub for INCCS activities, including research-based workshops, online events, and international networking. Recent and upcoming initiatives include the 2025 London workshop on “Preventing Transnational Repression” and the 2024 workshop “Uyghur Diaspora Voices,” hosted at the University of Sheffield. These events reflect INCCS’s focus on addressing sensitive and under-researched issues through collaborative, interdisciplinary engagement.

Founded on a commitment to academic freedom, critical inquiry, and transparency, INCCS brings together university-based scholars with extensive fieldwork experience and methodological expertise. The network seeks to fill major knowledge gaps by publishing detailed policy reports and fostering dialogue on the most pressing geopolitical and social questions linked to China’s rise.

Dr. David Tobin serves as INCCS Director, supported by an international steering committee that includes scholars from leading institutions across Europe, North America, and Asia. Through its newly launched website, INCCS aims to strengthen global collaboration and ensure that independent, well-informed voices on China remain visible and influential in policy and public debates worldwide.

This article is a summarized version of introductory materials about INCCS. It was not authored by the Uyghur Times team.