Professor Daniele Caramani sharing his insights

On the morning of January 28, 2026, at 10:00 AM, Professor Daniele Caramani from the University of Zurich visited the School of Global and Area Studies and the Joint Institute for European Studies (MOE). During his visit, he held a seminar with scholars from the institutes titled “Global Cleavages in Historical Perspective”.

 

Professor Daniele Caramani sharing his insights

Professor Daniele Caramani is a senior professor in the Department of Political Science at the University of Zurich. He also holds the Ernst B. Haas Chair in European Governance and Politics at the European University Institute in Florence and directs the European Research Council (ERC) Advanced Grant project, “Global Cleavages.”

Hosted by Xu Zhengyuan

The seminar was hosted by Associate Professor Xu Zhengyuan, Secretary-General of the MOE Joint Institute for European Studies and Researcher at the Institute of Area Studies, Renmin University of China (RUC).

The panel of discussants included: Professor Song Lilei, Director of the Tongji Center for European Studies and Professor at the School of Political Science & International Relations, Tongji University; Professor Meng Hong, Senior Researcher at the School of Global and Area Studies and Director of the German Studies Project, RUC; Associate Professor Luo Tianhong, Deputy Director of the Center for European Studies and Associate Professor at the School of International Studies, RUC; Lecturer Liu Lina from the School of International Studies, RUC.

Song Lilei participating in the discussion

Meng Hong participating in the discussion

Luo Tianhong participating in the discussion

Liu Lina participating in the discussion

Professor Caramani provided a profound elucidation centered on the core theme of “The Historical Evolution and Contemporary Characteristics of Global Cleavages.”

He argued that global cleavages are undergoing a transformation from territorial to functional dimensions. Through the analysis of historical texts from various transnational actors—such as the Socialist International, the World Bank, and the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC)—he demonstrated that global inequality manifests in different types, and their paths of politicization exhibit significant differences. He emphasized that functional issues are increasingly transcending territorial boundaries to become the primary factors shaping global political cleavages.

In the subsequent discussion, the attending scholars engaged in an in-depth exploration of issues such as the connotation of global cleavages, trends in de-globalization, and the coalition of global far-right political forces.

Group photo of attending scholars

Text: Xiong Zhaoji
Layout: Xiong Zhaoji
Reviewers: Xu Zhengyuan, Song Tingting