Journalist James Fallows discusses U.S.-China relations with Korbel students

By Nirvana Bhatia
MA candidate, International Human Rights
Josef Korbel School of International Studies

Journalist James Fallows encouraged DU students to engage with their Chinese counterparts in developing sustainable economic growth at the annual "Bridges to the Future" keynote event.

Fallows, a national correspondent for Atlantic Monthly, was welcomed back to the United States from a three-year stint in China by an oversold crowd at the Gates Concert Hall.

He called the environmental situation in China "grave" and said the need to blunt the environmental damage caused by rapid development was of major concern to China and the United States.

"There are a billion plus individuals following a billion plus individual ideas," Fallows, 60, said. "Now a billion people want to have electricity, heating, air conditioning-that is going to drive demand for power of China. And without the assistance and cooperation of America . . . we are all going to be in serious trouble."

Students in Professor Ilene Grabel's International Monetary Relations class were more than inspired by Fallows' personal insights on China's rise, citing his anecdotal tone as a refreshing take on the subject.

"It definitely makes my opinion of the university higher if they can get speakers like this," said first-year GFTEI student Michael Hennon. "And it's all about the multiplier effect. He just shared his thoughts with 1,100 people, and now we are all going to go discuss them with at least one other person, and that's how progress happens."