Dr. Yuchen Sun
Lecturer in Political Theory
Email: yuchensun@tsinghua.edu.cn
Yuchen joined the Department of Political Science in June 2024. His research focuses on early modern (especially seventeenth- and eighteenth-century) Western political thought and how past thinkers and ideas could inspire contemporary political theory and inform current political debates. He teaches a wide range of courses in political theory and the history of political thought.
Education
Ph.D. in History of Political Thought, King’s College London, 2024
M.A. in Political Theory, Peking University, 2019
B.A. in Politics and Public Administration, Peking University, 2017
Research Interest
History of western political thought (esp. 17-18th century)
Hobbes, Hume, Smith, and Rousseau
Liberalism and republicanism
Academic Publications
1. “The Problem of Normativity in Adam Smith’s History and Theory of Natural Authority,” forthcoming.
2. “The Spectre of Cold War Liberalism”’ [in Chinese], Dushu, 2025 (02): 39-48.
3. “David Hume on the Modus Operandi and Moral Values of Modern Politics” [in Chinese], in Peking University Political Science Review 14 (Beijing: Commercial Press, 2023), 162-88.
Media
1. “The Virtue that Thrived across Three Hundred Years: Commemorating Adam Smith in Scotland,” Shanghai Review of Books, 21 August 2023.
Teaching
1. Contemporary Ideological Trends in the West (40700223)
2. Select Readings in Contemporary Political Science (30701053)
3. Classical Texts in Social Sciences (1) (20700042)
4. Reading Adam Smith: Morals, Economics, and Politics (00701823)
5. Space, Technology, and Political Theory (00701812)
6. Political Philosophy (34700063)
Select Conference Papers
1. “The Spectre of Cold War Liberalism,” to History of Political Thought Workshop, Institute of Humanities and Social Sciences, Peking University, October 2024
2. “The Problem of Normativity in Adam Smith’s History and Theory of Natural Authority,” to “New Voices on the Wealth of Nations” Workshop, University of Glasgow, June 2024
3. “Smith and Rousseau on Political Representation in Historical Perspectives,” to International Adam Smith Society Annual Conference, Waseda University, Tokyo, March 2024
4. “Smith and Rousseau on Political Representation in Historical Perspectives,” to “Adam Smith: Connections” Workshop, Waseda University, Tokyo, March 2024
5. “‘The Aim of Modern Politics’: Reconsidering David Hume’s Theory of the Balance of Power,” to Britain and Ireland Association for Political Thought (BIAPT) Annual Conference, Jesus College, University of Cambridge, January 2024
6. “The Balance of Power and the Wealth of Nations: Hume on the Policy of Modern Princes,” to “Specula Principum in Chinese and Foreign Histories of Political Thought” Forum, Peking University, 9-10 December 2023
7. “ ‘Police’ and the Rule of Law: Hume on the Modernity of the Modern State,” to ‘State Theories and State Governance’ Conference, Beijing Normal University, 19 November 2023
8. “Hume, Smith, and Constant on Ancient and Modern Liberty,” to “Smith, Ferguson, and Witherspoon at 300” Conference, University of St. Andrews, July 2023
9. “Hume, Smith, and Constant on Modern Liberty,” to Adam Smith 300 Academic Workshops, University of Glasgow, June 2023
10. “A Stuart History for Hanoverian Politics: David Hume on the English Commonwealth,” to International Society for Intellectual History (ISIH) Annual Conference, Ca’ Foscari University of Venice, September 2022
Research Funding
1. Tsinghua University Undergraduate Education Reform Project “General Education Module ‘Space, Technology, and Political Theory’”
2. Tsinghua University Undergraduate Education Reform Project “Zhishan College Module ‘Classical Texts in Social Sciences (1)’”
Public Service
1. Head teacher of Class 2028, Zhishan College, Tsinghua University
Awards
1. Second Prize of Tsinghua University Faculty and Staff Chalkboard Competition, 2024
2. Adam Smith 300 Early Career Scholar Fund, University of Glasgow and John Templeton Foundation, 2023
3. King’s College London—China Scholarship Council Scholarship, 2019
4. Peking University Leo KoGuan Schoalrship, 2018
5. National Scholarship of Peking University, 2017
6. Sylff Fellow of Peking University, 2017
7. Peking University Tang Lixin Scholarship, 2017, 2016
8. Peking University Leo KoGuan Scholarship, 2015, 2014
