Michel Oksenberg
Encyclopedia
Michel Charles Oksenberg (1938 – 2001) was a leading American political scientist and China watcher
who moved between academia and policy work. As a senior member of the National Security Council, he was closely involved in the normalization of U.S.-China relations undertaken during the administration of President Jimmy Carter
, who said of him "...Mike Oksenberg changed my life—and changed the life of this country, and to some degree changed the life of every
citizen of China."
in 1960, and his M.A. and Ph.D. in political science from Columbia University
in 1963 and 1969 respectively.
Oksenberg began his career at Stanford University
in 1966, moved to Columbia University
in 1968, and then to the University of Michigan
in 1973, where he was on the faculty for twenty years. He served as president of the East-West Center
in Honolulu from 1992 to 1995, and then as senior fellow at the Asia-Pacific Research Center
at Stanford until the time of his death. Oksenberg "trained more students in contemporary Chinese studies during the last 25 years" than any other scholar, and was active in facilitating access for western scholars to China in the post-Mao era.
His work focused on analyzing the political system of China and understanding China's policymaking process. He also studied China's behavior with regard to international treaties, and contributed insights on U.S.-China relations. He consistently called for a more thoughtful U.S. engagement in Asia, and pushed for more productive relations with China, saying, "China's cooperation is essential to address the problems that threaten humanity: environmental and health issues, agricultural production, ... and so on. Its constructive engagement in regional issues (Korea, Indochina) is essential to attainment of regional stability. And it is not in America's interest for its China policy to drift far from that of Japan or Western Europe."
by normalizing relations with China. This would be politically difficult, as it would require the United States to allow a mutual defense treaty with Taiwan to expire. After an initial but less successful trip to Beijing in 1977 with Secretary of State Cyrus Vance
, Oksenberg traveled with National Security Advisor Zbigniew Brzezinski
to Beijing in early 1978, where they met with Leonard Woodcock
, the head of the U.S. liaison office there, to lay the groundwork for establishing diplomatic ties between the two countries. On December 15, 1978, the United States announced that on January 1, 1979, it would recognize Beijing as the legitimate government in China, ending formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan, although the United States would still maintain informal ties with the island.
Oksenberg helped work out an intelligence-sharing arrangement with Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping
on his visit to the United States in 1979. He also negotiated with China on assisting the Afghan resistance movement after the Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan in 1979.
Oksenberg advised every subsequent U.S. president on China policy until his death in 2001. He was also largely involved in the shaping of the National Committee on U.S.-China Relations, the Committee on Scholarly Communication with the People’s Republic of China, and the U.S.-China Business Council.
China watcher
China watcher, or, less frequently, Pekingologist, is a person who monitors current events and power struggles in People's Republic of China....
who moved between academia and policy work. As a senior member of the National Security Council, he was closely involved in the normalization of U.S.-China relations undertaken during the administration of President Jimmy Carter
Jimmy Carter
James Earl "Jimmy" Carter, Jr. is an American politician who served as the 39th President of the United States and was the recipient of the 2002 Nobel Peace Prize, the only U.S. President to have received the Prize after leaving office...
, who said of him "...Mike Oksenberg changed my life—and changed the life of this country, and to some degree changed the life of every
citizen of China."
Academic Career
Oksenberg earned his B.A. from Swarthmore CollegeSwarthmore College
Swarthmore College is a private, independent, liberal arts college in the United States with an enrollment of about 1,500 students. The college is located in the borough of Swarthmore, Pennsylvania, 11 miles southwest of Philadelphia....
in 1960, and his M.A. and Ph.D. in political science from Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
in 1963 and 1969 respectively.
Oksenberg began his career at Stanford University
Stanford University
The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
in 1966, moved to Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
in 1968, and then to the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
in 1973, where he was on the faculty for twenty years. He served as president of the East-West Center
East-West Center
The East–West Center , headquartered in Honolulu, Hawaii, is an education and research organization established by the U.S. Congress in 1960 to strengthen relations and understanding among the peoples and nations of Asia, the Pacific and the United States....
in Honolulu from 1992 to 1995, and then as senior fellow at the Asia-Pacific Research Center
Asia-Pacific Research Center
APARC or The Walter H. Shorenstein Asia-Pacific Research Center is part of the Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies at Stanford University. The center is devoted to research focused on Asia.-External links:*...
at Stanford until the time of his death. Oksenberg "trained more students in contemporary Chinese studies during the last 25 years" than any other scholar, and was active in facilitating access for western scholars to China in the post-Mao era.
His work focused on analyzing the political system of China and understanding China's policymaking process. He also studied China's behavior with regard to international treaties, and contributed insights on U.S.-China relations. He consistently called for a more thoughtful U.S. engagement in Asia, and pushed for more productive relations with China, saying, "China's cooperation is essential to address the problems that threaten humanity: environmental and health issues, agricultural production, ... and so on. Its constructive engagement in regional issues (Korea, Indochina) is essential to attainment of regional stability. And it is not in America's interest for its China policy to drift far from that of Japan or Western Europe."
Role in U.S.-China Relations
From 1977 to 1980, Oksenberg took a leave of absence from the University of Michigan to serve as a senior staff member on the National Security Council under the Carter administration, overseeing issues involving China and East Asia. Oksenberg encouraged the U.S. government to continue the Nixon policy of improving Sino-American relationsSino-American relations
For the article on U.S.-Taiwan relations, see Republic of China – United States relations.Sino-American or People's Republic of China–United States relations refers to international relations between the United States of America and the government of People's Republic of China...
by normalizing relations with China. This would be politically difficult, as it would require the United States to allow a mutual defense treaty with Taiwan to expire. After an initial but less successful trip to Beijing in 1977 with Secretary of State Cyrus Vance
Cyrus Vance
Cyrus Roberts Vance was an American lawyer and United States Secretary of State under President Jimmy Carter from 1977 to 1980...
, Oksenberg traveled with National Security Advisor Zbigniew Brzezinski
Zbigniew Brzezinski
Zbigniew Kazimierz Brzezinski is a Polish American political scientist, geostrategist, and statesman who served as United States National Security Advisor to President Jimmy Carter from 1977 to 1981....
to Beijing in early 1978, where they met with Leonard Woodcock
Leonard Woodcock
Leonard Freel Woodcock was an American labor union leader and diplomat.He was the president of the United Automobile Workers from 1970 to 1977 and the first US ambassador to the People's Republic of China....
, the head of the U.S. liaison office there, to lay the groundwork for establishing diplomatic ties between the two countries. On December 15, 1978, the United States announced that on January 1, 1979, it would recognize Beijing as the legitimate government in China, ending formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan, although the United States would still maintain informal ties with the island.
Oksenberg helped work out an intelligence-sharing arrangement with Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping
Deng Xiaoping
Deng Xiaoping was a Chinese politician, statesman, and diplomat. As leader of the Communist Party of China, Deng was a reformer who led China towards a market economy...
on his visit to the United States in 1979. He also negotiated with China on assisting the Afghan resistance movement after the Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan in 1979.
Oksenberg advised every subsequent U.S. president on China policy until his death in 2001. He was also largely involved in the shaping of the National Committee on U.S.-China Relations, the Committee on Scholarly Communication with the People’s Republic of China, and the U.S.-China Business Council.