On the afternoon of January 4, 2025, the 34th session of the “Marxism Forum” and the 33rd session of the “Zhengsi Academic Forum,” jointly organized by the School of Marxism at Southeast University and the Institute for the Development of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics at Southeast University, was successfully held in Room Y310, Jizhong Building, Jiulonghu Campus.
The lecture, titled “Reflections on Socialist Solidarity in an Era of Global Climate Change,” featured Professor Josef Gregory Mahoney from the School of Politics and International Relations at East China Normal University as the keynote speaker. The session was moderated and interpreted by Dr. Lihong Yuan from the School of Marxism at Suzhou University of Science and Technology, with Dr. Conrad Bongard Hamilton, a postdoctoral researcher from the School of Marxism at East China Normal University, serving as discussant. More than 60 faculty members and students attended the event.
At the beginning of the lecture, Professor Mahoney introduced the philosophical question “Who am I, and why am I here?” as a point of departure. He first explored the relationship between philosophy and politics through a comparative analysis of different philosophers and political thinkers, emphasizing the dialectical relationship between the individual and the collective. He then identified climate change as one of the major challenges facing both China and the world, and elaborated on China’s efforts and achievements in addressing this issue.
From a comparative perspective between China and the West, Professor Mahoney further critiqued the linear mode of thinking prevalent in Western culture and highlighted the importance of relational thinking and dialectical reasoning embedded in Chinese intellectual traditions. He argued that, in order to achieve sustainable development and effectively respond to global challenges, humanity must transform individual philosophical reflection into collective action, and build a more harmonious world through socialist solidarity and cooperation.
In the concluding remarks, Dr. Lihong Yuan noted that both the ancient Chinese concept of the unity of humanity and nature and contemporary relational modes of thinking offer important insights for addressing the pressing issue of global climate change.
During the discussion session, faculty members and students engaged in lively exchanges with Professor Mahoney on topics such as whether Western modernization follows a linear logic, and how to preserve and develop China’s fine traditional culture amid the interaction and tension of diverse cultures. Dr. Conrad Bongard Hamilton also contributed actively to the discussion. Professor Mahoney responded from perspectives including Chinese dialectical thinking and comparative analyses of Chinese and Western development paths. The lecture concluded successfully with warm applause from the audience.
Presenter Profile
Josef Gregory Mahoney is Professor of Politics, Executive Director of the International Center for Advanced Political Studies, and Founder and Director of the International Graduate Program in Politics. He serves as Associate Editor of the Journal of Chinese Political Science and Co-Editor of the ECNU Review.
His work has been widely published in academic journals and media outlets in both China and the West. He has contributed live commentary and analysis to ICS, Shenzhen TV, China Central Television (CCTV), CGTN, and BBC, and regularly participates in political discussions on China Radio International. He was also a member of the Chinese translation team for Selected Works of Jiang Zemin and has served as a senior research fellow at the Central Compilation and Translation Bureau.
