….In English, “Wisconsin Idea” is said to be the tradition of a university system offering its services and expertise to government, making it more transparent and responsive to the needs of citizens. I?m sure there?s a Chinese way to say the definition, too. It?s just that given China?s autocratic regime and shoddy human rights record, it probably wouldn?t be of much practical use.
Quoted: Laurie Dennis, associate director of the UW-Madison Wisconsin China Initiative. Edward Friedman, a UW-Madison political science professor who has been active in advocating for human rights in China, agreed that engagement hasn’t produced democracy there.