By Maren Layton
Some places in China are extremely poor, and the difficult environment makes a rise in the standard of living seem almost hopeless. In other places, there are great examples of people developing their communities and making real contributions.
One BYU professor has seen this diversity first hand.
Eric A. Hyer, BYU associate professor of political science, began his interest in China in high school, and has continued that interest throughout his life.
“China is a fascinating place,” Hyer said. “Sometimes it”s on the front page and sometimes it”s not, but it isn”t going to go away as an important player in the international political, economic and military relations, so it”s always important to keep your eye on China.”
Today, he will share his views as part of the International Forum Series on alternative ways for Americans to look at China.
Hyer said his father was a great influence to him when he was young. As a boy, Hyer lived in Japan with his father, a historian who taught Asian history.
After high school, Hyer studied at BYU during spring and summer terms. He was enrolled in intensive Chinese courses. In the fall, he traveled to Taiwan where he continued his intensive Chinese studies for one year.
The intensive programs proved useful when he was called to serve a mission in Taiwan for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Hyer continued to return to China on a regular basis after his mission. Shortly after the United States normalized relations with Japan, he traveled to Beijing as a graduate student. He was one of the first American students to study in mainland China.
“[China] is so diverse,” Hyer said. “It”s a mixture of interesting people, interesting places, exotic culture and beautiful scenery.”
Hyer said one of the biggest problems with U.S.-China relations is misinformation and misunderstanding. America tends to flip back and forth between viewing China as a big menacing dragon about to awake, and a cuddly, cute panda bear. In reality, it is somewhere in between, he said.
“Americans need to understand more about China because we are destined to be either competitors, partners or enemies,” Hyer said.
The same thing goes for China, Hyer said. They, too, have the same kind of misunderstandings about the United States.
Hyer said despite both historical and recent conflicts between the United States and China, there are many things the two countries have in common.
Global stability, economic development, limiting production of weapons of mass destruction and maintaining peace are all things in which the United States and China have similar views. Hyer said he also understands cooperation is not always possible.
“Great nations always find themselves at odds with each other and we”ll always have differences,” Hyer said. “It”s important that we understand the way they view the world, and try to help them understand the way we see the world, then try to find common ground for cooperation.”
Hyer also served as a Fulbright Scholar in 1995-1996, teaching international relations theory, U.S. foreign policy and U.S.-China relations at Foreign Affairs College in Beijing.
In addition to major cities, Hyer has backpacked through remote areas, experiencing a very diverse country.
Hyer said the biggest impact he feels he has made is the close association he has with Chinese students who come to study at BYU. Many have returned to China, taking up responsible positions as professors in universities or working in large companies. These students returned to China and are making a contribution there now, he said.
“China is the most dynamic country in the world right now in terms of population growth, economic growth and growth in its military capability,” Hyer said. “It”s growing more and more important all the time.”
Hyer received a bachelor”s degree from BYU in history and Chinese language. He later went to Columbia and earned a doctorate in political science, emphasizing in international relations and Chinese politics. Before teaching at BYU, he taught at Hunter College in New York City.
In 2000, Hyer was also the associate producer of Helen Foster Snow: Witness to Revolution, a documentary about a Utah-born journalist living in China during the 1930s. Snow was one of the few westerners able to give an eyewitness account of the early communist movement.
Hyer served as the liaison for China and BYU, where he accompanied Elder Merrill J. Bateman on a trip to China. He also meets with various Chinese groups visiting BYU.
Director of the Kennedy Center, Jeff Ringer, said in a press release, “It”s a pleasure to have this talented scholar of Chinese politics right here on our campus. His lecture should be quite enjoyable and informative.”
Hyer said his goal for the forum is to discuss different schools of thought about the complication and evolution of American public opinion of China. He will also speak of alternative ways to look at China.
“Based upon the way you see China now has a lot to do with the way you assume China will become in the future,” Hyer said. “Whether or not they will be friendly to the United States is deeply rooted in assumptions you make about the nature of international politics and about the nature of China.”
The lecture is scheduled for 12 noon in 238 Herald R. Clark Building. It will also be webcast live online. More information about the International Forum Series, archived lectures, and a calendar of upcoming speakers can be found on the Kennedy Web site at http://kennedy.byu.edu/events.
