When: Wednesday, 14 October 2026
Where: The Union Club, 805 Gordon Street
Time: 11:30 am – 1:30 pm (registration desk opens at 11:25 am)
Speaker: Dr. Pitman Potter

Drawing parallels with domestic populism movements that are anti-elitist and grievance-fuelled, Pitman Potter’s latest book, China and the Rules-Based International Order, theorizes that contemporary Chinese conduct under the leadership of Xi Jinping can be described as “globalized populism” against the Western-dominated international order. In this talk, the most celebrated legal scholar of China in Canada, will explore China’s responses to three global crises: the COVID-19 pandemic, climate change, and involuntary migration to give us a better understanding of a country with increasing prominence in the world.

Pitman B. Potter is Professor of Law Emeritus at the University of British Columbia and a former director of Chinese Legal Studies. He is a fellow of the Royal Society of Canada and a Member of the Order of Canada, and practised law in BC, Washington state, and California throughout his academic career. His teaching and research have focused on PRC and Taiwan law and policy in the areas of international trade and investment, dispute resolution, property and contract law, business regulation, and human rights. Among his many publications is Exporting Virtue? China’s International Human Rights Activism in the Age of Xi Jinping, as well as Assessing Treaty Performance in China: Trade and Human Rights and China’s Legal System. His latest book, released in July 2026 is China and the Rules-Based International Order: Globalized Populism and Crisis Response.

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This is a CIC Victoria member event only.  Registration details will be sent by email to our members.

When registering you will be asked about dietary restrictions. At our lunches, shellfish and beef are not served. Our standard meal is either fish or chicken.

You can request, when registering, a vegetarian meal, pescetarian meal, dairy free or gluten free. You may also indicate any food allergies (but not preferences please).

The cost to attend this lunch is $46 for CIC members, $35 for CIC young professional members and $20 for CIC student members. Please note that to keep our ticket prices as low as possible desserts will not be served.

The last day to register for, or withdraw from, this event is Tuesday, 6 October 2026 at midnight. No refunds are possible after this date and time unless we can fill the cancellation from a wait list.