Michael Jinghan Zeng is a professor in the Department of Public and International Affairs at City University of Hong Kong. He also serves as the Founding Editor-in-Chief of Cambridge Forum on Technology and Global Affairs, and is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts and the Higher Education Academy (UK). Previously, he was appointed Professor of China and International Studies at Lancaster University, where he also served as Director of its Confucius Institute. Other past appointments include Senior Lecturer of International Relations and Director of Centre for Politics in Africa, Asia and the Middle East (AAME) at Royal Holloway, University of London. Professor Zeng also lectured at University of Warwick and De Montfort University. Before his academic career, he worked for the United Nations’ Department of Economic and Social Affairs in New York City.  

Professor Zeng’s research interests lie in politics and international relations, with a focus on China. He draws on his research to connect with audiences beyond academia, and frequently appears in TV and radio broadcasts, including the BBC, ABC Australia, Al Jazeera, Voice of America, DR (Danish Broadcasting Corporation), Russia Today (RT), China Central Television (CCTV) and China Global Television Network (CGTN). His research has been covered by the journal Science and major media outlets including Financial Times, The Economist, Forbes and South China Morning Post. He has written op-ed articles for The Diplomat, BBC (Chinese), The Conversation and Policy Forum, among others.

Research