Dr. Zhao specializes in International Relations and Methodology, with a substantive focus on democratic legitimacy in global governance, non-state actors, international environmental politics, and human rights. Her recent research focuses on the political participation of historically marginalized communities such as women and indigenous peoples at the global climate change governance institutions. She teaches various international relations classes, including Global Climate Change Politics, International Human Rights, and Contemporary China and East Asia.
Peer-reviewed publications:
- Zhao, Bi. 2023. "Granting legitimacy from non-state actor deliberation: an example of women’s groups at the UNFCCC." Environmental Policy and Governance.
- Zhao, Bi (with Ann Marie Clark). 2020. “Who Did What for Whom? Amnesty International’s Urgent Actions as Activist-Generated Data.” Journal of Human Rights. 19(1):46-66.
Forthcoming:
- “Who tells your story? The ecology of civil society organizations at UNFCCC.” (Contracted with Cambridge University Press, Element Series on "Organizational Response to Climate Change: Business, Governments, and Nonprofit." With Takumi Shibaike.)
- “Finding urban climate justice in environmental authoritarianism: the case of an urbanizing China” (book chapter)
My research is broadly motivated by the interest in democratic legitimacy in global governance and the role of non-state actors. My research seeks to understand the function, strategies, and implications of non-state actors’ participation in transnational issues like climate change and human rights. I am particularly interested in understanding their strategies to build and shape norms while at the same time seeking organizational survival and autonomy, as well as the extent to which they can enhance democracy at global governance venues. I employ a mixed-methods approach in my research. I apply methods and techniques such as network analysis, statistical modeling, computational text analysis, and in-depth interviews.
