LSE: The Ballpark | China’s Three Personality Problem with Professor Todd Hall

About this episode

The episode discusses China's complex role in the world and the narratives shaping US-China competition with Professor Todd Hall.

Understanding China’s role in the world has never been more important — or more complex. China projects itself variously as a moral global actor, a fiercely defensive power guarding its core interests, and a pragmatic, opportunistic player driven by economic incentives. At the same time, policymakers in the West interpret China through competing stories — from historical cycles and ideological clashes to narratives centred on national interests and the personalities of individual leaders. These overlapping perspectives shape how the US and its partners respond to China, and how stable — or unstable — the future might be. To discuss these issues, in November 2025 the Phelan US Centre spoke to Todd Hall, Professor of International Relations at the University of Oxford and Director of the University of Oxford’s China Centre. In the interview, they explored China’s “three personalities,” the politics of emotion in international relations, and the narratives that shape US–China competition. They talk about economic interdependence, climate cooperation, and how shifting perceptions influence policymaking on both sides. Further reading and resources • University of Oxford China Centre…

People in this episode

Guest: Todd Hall

Topics covered

• China's role in the world
• US-China relations
• international relations
• economic interdependence
• climate cooperation
• politics of emotion

Keywords

• China
• international relations
• US-China competition
• economic interdependence
• politics of emotion
• climate cooperation

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: University of Oxford, Phelan US Centre

Books & works: Rethinking Affective Experience and Popular Emotion: World War I and the Construction of Group Emotion in International Relations

More episodes of LSE Podcasts

• Should we take hypnotherapy more seriously? · June 9, 2026 · 33 min
• LSE: The Ballpark | EU-China relations in the Trump era with Noah Barkin · June 8, 2026 · 34 min
• LSE: The Ballpark | Donald Trump and the unmaking of Europe with Professor Nathalie Tocci · May 26, 2026 · 28 min
• Should animals have rights? · May 12, 2026 · 30 min
• LSE: The Ballpark | China under siege: how Beijing sees the United States with Dr Yu Jie · May 11, 2026 · 26 min
• LSE: The Ballpark | Donald Trump and the future of US-EU relations with Professor Kathleen McNamara · April 27, 2026 · 34 min