Attempting to make connections between countries and understanding cultures different from our own has never been more important. The international disagreements and conflicts that took place in the 20th century are returning in new forms in the present day. This Seward Research Project will discuss a survey posted to the Union Community regarding their views toward China, especially poignant due to the rising power of China relative to the United States. It will attempt to understand how respondents, as well as the wider American population, view the government of China, especially within the context of the Union and increased Asian hate faced by many following the COVID 19 pandemic.
With similarities potentially being drawn with the perceptions of the Soviet Union during the Cold War, this project will discuss the importance of cultural curiosity and intelligence. Focusing on similarities and what binds us, rather than what divides us, allows peaceful coexistence and informed understanding.