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Dr Xin Liu

Humanities and Social Science

Faculty of Arts Professional and Social Studies

Dr. Xin Liu (Calvin) is an international historian and international theorist whose research draws upon the nexus between historical knowledge and international theories to reveal how the former disseminates critical values for the latter. In particular, Calvin is interested in understanding how non-western experiences of state-formation and social development may critically engage the extant frameworks of IR which are usually rigid and profane by providing alternative, historically grounded interpretations of modern concepts and cannons such as sovereignty, nation-state, territoriality and justice. Calvin has published journal articles which excavate from world history the variegated patterns and assumptions of international order in premodern Asia, and he's also producing a monograph on how the global overseas Chinese communities have helped shaping the modern Chinese revolution.

Calvin joined Liverpool John Moores University in July 2017, before which he taught in various British and overseas higher education institutions including the University of Sussex, Birkbeck College of London and the University of Sharjah in the UAE. Calvin's areas of teaching have ranged from international history, Chinese studies to international relations theories and social research methods. Calvin's academic life is mostly spent in the UK, where he has received a PhD in International Relations and Historical Sociology (Sussex) and a MSc in International Relations Research (LSE).

Calvin has been a member of the Higher Education Academy (HEA), British International Studies Association (BISA), International Studies Association (ISA) and the Sussex Uneven and Combined Development Working Group. Beyond the academia, Calvin has been acting as a regular contributor for the BBC World Service, in which role he has commented widely on a vast range of issues such as global and regional conflicts, Chinese politics, and other social and public affairs of concern. Calvin has also occasionally appeared on other Chinese media platforms such as Sina and Southern People's Weekly.

Calvin is interested in supervising doctoral research projects in the fields of international relations theories, international history and non-western issues, Chinese studies and East Asian politics and society.

Since September 2017, Calvin has already taught the following modules at the LJMU:
L4
Making History
Lion Rampant, Lion Tamed: History of the British Empire

L5
Debates in History
Bitter Resurgence: China and the Modern World (1894-2012)

L7
Understanding International Relations
Research Methods for International Relations
International Politics and Development in Asia-Pacific

Languages

Chinese (Cantonese)
Chinese (Mandarin)
English

Degrees

2014, University of Sussex, United Kingdom, Dphil in International Relations
2009, London School of Economics and Political Science, United Kingdom, MSc in International Relations (Research)
2008, People's University of China, China, BA in International Politics and International Political Economy

Academic appointments

Lecturer/Senior Lecturer in International Relations and History, Liverpool John Moores University, 2017 - present

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