On the afternoon of May 14, 2026, the 163rd session of the "Jingshi Economics & Management ·Expert Forum  Lecture Series", the 6th Economic History Lecture and the 3rd Country and Area Studies Salon of the Belt and Road Academy were held in Room 9406 of Jingshi Building. The event invited Professor David Lane, Fellow of the British Academy and from the University of Cambridge, who delivered a lecture entitled The Rise of the Global Political Class and its Rivals. More than 30 undergraduate and postgraduate students attended the activity, which was presided over by Chen Yueyuan from the Department of Political Economy.

During the lecture, Professor David Lane systematically reviewed the historical evolution from classical imperialism in the 19th century to the transformation of contemporary globalization. He pointed out that the decolonization process, the rise of socialist countries and the development of productive forces jointly drove capitalism to evolve into a transnational form. Neoliberal globalization has shifted political and economic power from nation-states to regional and global elite networks, forming an integrated complex covering international economy, politics, military and media, which claims legitimacy based on a rules-based international democratic order. Meanwhile, internal contradictions within the global political class, conflicts between national interests and challenges from external elites have impacted the existing international order. He also shared his prospects for the evolution of the global political landscape in the future.

Professor David Lane’s in-depth interpretation sparked extensive thinking among the audience. Teachers and students raised active questions concerning hot topics such as the impact of artificial intelligence on laborers, migration and capital flows, as well as reforms in global governance, to which Professor Lane gave thorough responses one by one. With a broad vision and distinctive viewpoints, the lecture conducted an integrated analysis of global political changes, the operational logic of capitalism, technological revolution and social governance. It featured profound theoretical insights and close attention to real-world issues. The event served as a high-quality platform for faculty and students of BNUBS to engage in dialogues with world-leading scholars, greatly facilitating the exchange of academic ideas and broadening research horizons. At the end of the session, all attendees expressed sincere gratitude to Professor David Lane for his wonderful sharing. The 163rd Expert Forum Lecture Series concluded successfully amid warm applause.

Contributed by Academic Practice Department of the Graduate Student Union

Edited by Sun Yue

Reviewed by Hu Conghui