The China Quarterly

It is considered one of the most important academic journals about China in the world and is published by Cambridge University Press. It covers anthropology, business, literature, the arts, economics, geography, history, international affairs, law, politics, and sociology. Each issue contains articles, research reports, and a book review section. CQ is owned by the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), University of London. Its editors are Timothy Hildebrandt (LSE), Jieyu Liu (SOAS), and Tim Pringle (SOAS).

History

The China Quarterly began as an offshoot of Soviet Survey, a journal published by the Congress for Cultural Freedom (CCF). In 1959, Walter Laqueur, the editor of Soviet Survey, asked sinologist Roderick MacFarquhar to edit the new journal, the first issue of which was released in 1960. The publisher was transferred in 1968 from CCF to the Contemporary China Institute at the University of London's School of Oriental and African Studies.

The transfer followed the revelation that CCF was funded by the Central Intelligence Agency through the Farfield Foundation. MacFarquhar stated he was unaware of the relationship and his editorship was not influenced by CCF. However, he admitted to knowingly publishing articles provided by the CIA and the British Foreign Office's covert propaganda unit, the Information Research Department, and giving the authors pseudonyms to keep their identities secret. David Wilson succeeded MacFarquhar as editor in 1968.