Fall of Imperial China

William C. Kirby serves as Harvard University Distinguished Service Professor, holding dual appointments as T. M. Chang Professor of China Studies and Spangler Family Professor of Business Administration. As Chairman of the Harvard China Fund and Faculty Chair of the Harvard Center Shanghai, he leads Harvard's academic initiatives in China. His career spans significant leadership roles, including Dean of Harvard's Faculty of Arts and Sciences (2002-2006), where he managed 10,000 students, 1,000 faculty members, and a $1 billion budget. His research examines China's business and economic development through an international lens, focusing on modern Chinese companies, corporate law, and cross-border business relations. His recent works include "Empires of Ideas" (2022), examining university development across Germany, America, and China, and "Can China Lead?" (2014), analyzing China's growth potential. He has authored over 50 Harvard Business School cases on Chinese business, ranging from startups to state-owned enterprises. Beyond academia, he serves on multiple boards including Cabot Corporation, The China Fund, Inc., and Schwarzman Scholars at Tsinghua University. Before joining Harvard in 1992, he was Professor of History and Dean at Washington University in St. Louis. His expertise extends to Chinese higher education, state-owned enterprises, and business relations across Greater China. He holds degrees from Dartmouth College, Harvard University, and honorary doctorates from the Free University of Berlin, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, and Hong Kong Baptist University, while maintaining honorary professorships at several Chinese universities including Peking, Nanjing, and Fudan University.