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We are delighted to invite you to the College of Social Sciences Annual Alumni Lecture and Reception on Tuesday 17 November 2026 . Join fellow alumni, students and colleagues for an evening of discussion, networking and insight as Professor Daniela Gabor explores one of the defining political and economic questions of our time in her lecture: The Geopolitics and Macrofinance of AI: A Race Between the US and China The AI race between China and the US is heating up. Behind it lie two competing models of industrial policy: China’s state-led industrial/credit policy vs US capital-led industrial derisking organized through a Big Tech-Big Finance nexus and promoted through US geopolitical alliances like Pax Silica. Can the US derisking state outcompete China’s developmental state? How will the AI race impact the ongoing crisis of US hegemony, especially as the vulnerabilities of the US AI investment bubble intensify? What are the developmental implications, and opportunities, for Global South countries pursuing AI sovereignty? Professor Gabor will examine the competing economic and financial models shaping this race, the implications for global power and development, and what it means for countries seeking to build their own technological futures. The event will be introduced by Professor Carlos Oya, Acting Dean of the College of Social Sciences and Professor of Political Economy of Development. Registration This event is free to attend, but registration is required. Seating is on a first-come, first-served basis. Image credit: issaronow via Adobe Stock

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