Marc Blecher

  • James Monroe Professor of Politics and of East Asian Studies

Areas of Study

Education

  • BS, Cornell University, 1969
  • MA, University of Chicago, 1972
  • PhD, University of Chicago, 1978

Biography

Marc Blecher is professor of politics and East Asian studies.

His specialty is Chinese politics, and he has published several books and dozens of articles on local politics, popular participation, and political economy in China.

His current research on China focuses on two projects: workers’ politics and local governments’ role in economic development. He teaches about these subjects as well as Asian politics and political economy, Marxist theory, and comparative politics.

Fall 2024

Revolution, Socialism and Reform in China — POLT 110
Political Economy of Development in Asia — POLT 212

Spring 2025

Marxian Theory — POLT 239
Seminar: Transition to Capitalist Society in China — POLT 313
The Politics of Work and Organized Labor — POLT 413

Notes

Marc Blecher Coauthored Book Translated to Spanish

September 20, 2023

EUDEBA (a leading Argentine academic publisher) has brought out a Spanish translation of Marc's Politics as a Science: A Prolegomenon (coauthored with Philippe Schmitter, Emeritus Professor at the European Universities Institute). Translations into Arabic and Chinese are in the works.

March Blecher Coauthors, Publishes Two Books Dealing with Class and the Communist Party

March 1, 2022

On February 25, Routledge published Professor of Politics and of East Asian Studies Marc Blecher’s two newest books: Class and the Communist Party of China, 1921-1978; and Class and the Communist Party of China, 1978-2021.

Blecher coauthored the books with colleagues from Harvard, Sciences Po, the University of Sydney, and Xi’an Jiaotong Liwupu University (in Suzhou, China). To mark the Chinese Communist Party’s 100th anniversary, the scholars put together this project of research, writing, and conferences on its century-long encounter with the question of class. 

 

Marc Blecher Presents at Chinese Studies Association of Australia Conference

December 3, 2021

On November 30, James Monroe Professor of Politics and of East Asian Studies Marc Blecher addressed the Chinese Studies Association of Australia 17th Biennial Conference on “Changing China: Then and Now 變遷中國:過去與現在.” He presented three chapters from his two forthcoming books Class and the Communist Party of China, 1921–1978 and Class and the Communist Party of China, 1978-2021: Reform and Market Socialism.

Marc Blecher Coauthors Book

October 5, 2020

James Monroe Professor of Politics and Professor of East Asian Studies Marc Blecher’s new book Politics as a Science: A Prolegomenon, coauthored with European University Institute Emeritus Professor Philippe Schmitter, was recently published by Routledge. It provides an overview of the core, eternal, universal issues of political science—or, as we argue it should be known, “politology.” It argues that politics is the most fundamental social activity because it involves the peaceful resolution of conflict without which all others would be impossible. The book includes chapters on politics’ (and politology’s) subject matter, foundations (concepts, agents, cleavages, motives, processes, mechanisms, temporalities, units and régimes), consequences (order, production and distribution, recognition and respect, externalities, and legitimacy), the discipline, research design, and its purpose and promise. It is available Open Access to make it affordable for students, scholars and citizens/subjects the world over. Portuguese and Spanish translations are in process, with more foreign language editions intended.

News

Moe Ariyoshi ’26 on Morals and Technology

October 11, 2024

Moe Ariyoshi ’26 had a meaningful summer at Carnegie India through Summer Experience Funding. At Oberlin, she is a computer science major with a double minor in politics and economics, and concentrations in international affairs and data science. Here, they reflect on how Oberlin shaped their morals.

From Double Major to Law School: Emily Kelly-Olsen ’19

July 22, 2020

A student athlete, Kelly-Olsen discovered her passion for politics and East Asian studies at Oberlin. She is currently a student at University of Michigan Law School and working as an associate at a law firm in her hometown of Portland, Oregon.