Add these new titles by NYU Shanghai faculty to your reading list, from a look into the origins of World War II to deep dives into inequality and social stratification in China, and even a reimagining of the internet and AI through Liu Cixin’s “dark forest.”
Real Estate REITs Theory and Practice from International Perspectives (国际视野下的不动产REITs理论与实践)
Edited by Guohua Jean Zhang (Shanghai University of Finance and Economics Press)
Published in January 2026
Co-authored by 22 seasoned professors and senior executives from New York University, NYU Shanghai, and leading industry institutions, this book examines the evolution of international REITs and their relevance for China, the theoretical foundations and practical pathways of China’s REITs, and in-depth case studies of representative REIT projects. Edited by Guohua Jean Zhang, Professor of Practice from NYU Shanghai’s Institute for Cities and Real Estate in Emerging Markets (ICREEM), it is the first academic monograph in China to systematically examine real estate investment trusts (REITs) from a global perspective, while integrating insights from local practice.
At a time when China’s real estate sector is undergoing accelerated transformation and public REITs are rapidly advancing, this book provides the field with a critical theoretical framework and practical guidance, marking an important milestone in the development of China’s real estate REITs.
The Path to the Global War (走向全球战争之路)
By Chen Jian (Oriental Publishing Center)
Published in December 2025
A new edition of the 1980s classic by renowned historian and Distinguished Global Network Professor of History Chen Jian, this book on the origins of the Second World War has been highly regarded for its international perspective and rigorous analytical framework. Looking through a global lens, Chen systematically examines shifts in prewar imperialism, the connections among historical events, and the interaction between forces pushing toward war and those resisting it. He argues that World War II resulted not only from fascist aggression, but also from the structural flaws of the Versailles–Washington system, revealing the logic behind the war’s seeming inevitability.
For this new edition coinciding with the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, the author has reverified historical sources and fully updated the notes and bibliography in line with contemporary academic standards. The book remains both a rigorous inquiry into the war’s origins and a reminder to draw wisdom from the past.
The Dark Forest Theory of the Internet (Theory Redux)
By Bogna Konoir (Polity)
Published in November 2025
A forthcoming volume in Polity’s Theory Redux series, Assistant Professor Bogna Konior reimagines the internet and artificial intelligence through the metaphor of Liu Cixin’s “dark forest” – a universe where visibility invites danger and survival depends on strategic silence. Professor Konior portrays the online world as a zone of cosmic conflict, shaped by existential tension, emergent AI cults, deceptive super-intelligences, and users who behave like camouflaged life-forms. The book argues that intelligence – human and artificial – is mutating under pressure, learning to conceal, misdirect, and manipulate as transparency becomes a liability. In this dark forest, survival belongs not to the loudest voice, but to the most effectively hidden.
The book is now published across Europe, and will be in the United States in February 2026, with translations underway in Chinese, Greek, Spanish, Italian, and German.
Machine Decision Is Not Final: China and the History and Future of Artificial Intelligence
Edited by Benjamin Bratton, Anna Greenspan, Bogna Konior, and Amy Ireland (Urbanomic)
Published in November 2025
Co-edited by Associate Professor of Contemporary Global Media Anna Greenspan, Director of NYU Shanghai’s Center for Artificial Intelligence and Culture, together with Assistant Professor of Interactive Media Arts (IMA) Bogna Konior, former Visiting Professor Benjamin Bratton, and Amy Ireland, this new volume traces the history of Chinese artificial intelligence and reexamines China’s engagement with AI beyond the clichés that dominate contemporary debate.. Contributing experts from across various fields draw on a mixture of speculative thought experiments and cutting-edge use cases to offer views on topics including AI and Chinese philosophy, AI ethics and policy-making, the development of computational models in early Chinese cybernetics, and the aesthetics of Sinofuturism. It provides a fresh perspective on what AI is today in China, and what it might become.
Higher Education and Social Stratification in Contemporary China (中国当代的高等教育与社会分层)
By Wu Xiaogang & Hu Anning (Truth & Wisdom Press and The Shanghai People's Press)
Published in July 2025
Authored by Yufeng Global Professor of Social Science Wu Xiaogang and Fudan University Professor Hu Anning, this volume brings together 12 quantitative studies based on data (collected by Professor Wu) from the Beijing College Student Panel Survey (BCSPS) (2009-2013). The selected papers explore how family socioeconomic status, cultural and social capital, and college experiences shape students’ outcomes in China’s labor market. Topics include Independent Freshman Admission Program in China’s higher education, the role of cultural capital in elite university access, parental education and students’ views on love and intimate relationships, education-job matching and income returns among highly educated individuals, and the influence of social networks on career attainment.
Offering rich empirical insights, this collection deepens our understanding of social differentiation and stratification within China’s higher education and provides a valuable foundation for future research in this field.
The Green Banking Transition Manual: Navigating the Sustainable Finance Landscape
By Rodrigo Zeidan (Palgrave Macmillan)
Published in March 2025
Professor of Practice in Business and Finance Rodrigo Zeidan establishes a comprehensive standard for green banking, targeting both academic and professional audiences. He bridges the gap between traditional financial metrics and sustainable banking practices, making a compelling, practical case for integrating environmental considerations into financial decision-making. Rather than treating sustainability as a peripheral concern, Zeidan demonstrates that environmental indicators are essential tools for sound and responsible banking.
Positioned as a foundational resource, this manual is poised to become the definitive guide for current and future participants in the green finance movement.
Understanding Inequality in China: The Contribution of the Chinese General Social Survey
By Wu Xiaogang & Miao Jia (Taylor & Francis)
Published in January 2025
Celebrating 20 years of the Chinese General Social Survey (CGSS), this edited volume by Yufeng Global Professor of Social Science Wu Xiaogang and Assistant Professor of Sociology Miao Jia synthesizes essential research on inequality and stratification in contemporary China from Chinese Sociological Review (2011-2023). Drawing on nationally representative CGSS data, the book provides a comprehensive analysis of shifting patterns in education, income, career mobility, and intergenerational inequality in China. The collection underscores the enduring impact of institutional frameworks like hukou and danwei, advancing beyond early transition theories to illuminate how political, economic, and demographic forces converge to shape China's complex contemporary social structure.
Changing Social Stratification in China (变迁中的中国社会分层)
By Wu Xiaogang (Truth & Wisdom Press and The Shanghai People's Press)
Published in January 2025
Renowned sociologist Wu Xiaogang’s book, brings together his research since 2010. It covers a range of pressing social issues, including association of education and income, the impact of the household registration system (hukou) on social stratification, job mobility and income inequality in urban China, gender disparities, China’s declining fertility rate and changes in educational gender inequality. Each chapter explores a specific topic in depth through rigorous quantitative analyses, offering detailed and accessible explanations of research design and methodology.
The book serves as a valuable practical reference for newcomers to quantitative research and seasoned social science scholars alike, offering insights in both theory and methods.