Robert Lawrence Kuhn
Robert Lawrence Kuhn | |
|---|---|
| Born | November 6, 1944 |
| Occupation(s) | Investment banker, author, television producer, commentator |
| Known for | Creator and host of PBS program Closer to Truth; expert on Chinese affairs |
| Notable work | The Man Who Changed China; How China's Leaders Think; A Landscape of Consciousness |
Robert Lawrence Kuhn (born November 6, 1944) is an American expert in investment banking, author, television producer, and commentator specializing in Chinese affairs. He is the creator of the PBS program Closer to Truth and is widely regarded as a prominent Western analyst of China's governmental strategies. Some observers have criticized his work as promoting pro-China viewpoints.
Education
Kuhn completed a bachelor's degree in human biology at Johns Hopkins University in 1964, graduating Phi Beta Kappa. He obtained a PhD in anatomy and brain research from UCLA's Brain Research Institute in 1968, followed by an M.S. in management as a Sloan Fellow from the MIT Sloan School of Management in 1980.
Career
Between 1991 and 2001, Kuhn served as president and co-owner of the Geneva Companies, a mergers and acquisitions firm catering to privately held, middle-market enterprises. In 2000, he sold the Geneva Companies to Citigroup.
The television series Closer to Truth, broadcast on PBS and other public stations, was conceived, executive produced, written, and hosted by Kuhn, with Peter Getzels acting as producer and director. Debuting in 2000 and now in its 19th season, the show features dialogues with leading figures in science, philosophy, theology, and academia on topics such as cosmology, physics, consciousness, and the philosophy of religion. The series is anchored by Kuhn’s presentation titled "Asking Ultimate Questions."
In 2024, Kuhn authored "A landscape of consciousness: Toward a taxonomy of explanations and implications," published in Progress in Biophysics and Molecular Biology, which offers a classification system encompassing approximately 225 consciousness theories.
In 1989, Song Jian, then director of the State Science and Technology Commission, invited Kuhn to China; Kuhn regards Song as a mentor.
Kuhn wrote The Man Who Changed China: The Life and Legacy of Jiang Zemin, recognized as the first biography of a living Chinese leader; it became a bestseller in China in 2005. His 2011 publication How China's Leaders Think: The Inside Story of China's Past, Current and Future Leaders examines the dynamics within Chinese leadership. Additionally, he has authored works on Xi Jinping’s position as core leader of the Chinese Communist Party and analyzed China’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
He created or hosted several television and online series including China's Challenges, Closer To China with R.L. Kuhn, and The Watcher.
Kuhn provided live analysis for CNN during Xi Jinping's 2015 policy speech in Seattle and participated in the Frankfurt Book Fair event launching Xi’s book The Governance of China.
During the 2017 19th National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party, Kuhn was extensively interviewed by media outlets such as CNN, BBC World News, CGTN, and CCTV. In recognition of his four decades of contributions to Chinese economic reform, Xi Jinping awarded him the China Reform Friendship Medal in 2018.
After Jiang Zemin passed away in November 2022, Kuhn published reflections concluding that "history will be kind to Jiang Zemin."
Responses
Bruce Gilley reviewed Kuhn's The Man Who Changed China in Foreign Affairs, describing it as an officially endorsed autobiography shaped by Chinese leadership to project a curated image. Gilley noted that beginning in 2001, a covert state propaganda team supervised the book’s development. John Walsh from Shinawatra University observed that early chapters portrayed Jiang Zemin positively to the point of near hagiography. Gilley further stated that approximately ten percent of content was removed from the Chinese edition while the English version was also modified to conform with government preferences. He remarked:
Kuhn replied in 2006 by underscoring his editorial autonomy and personal initiative:
According to The Wire China, Kuhn has consistently rejected allegations that he acts as a propagandist for China's government while establishing himself as one of the foremost Western interpreters of Beijing's policies. His work has granted him significant access to Chinese leadership circles. Kuhn asserts that his objective is to promote mutual understanding between China and the international community, aligning with interests shared by both the U.S. and China.
Selected Publications
- Robert Lawrence Kuhn (2024). "A Landscape of Consciousness: Developing a Taxonomy of Explanations and Their Consequences." Progress in Biophysics and Molecular Biology, 190, 28–169.
- Robert Lawrence Kuhn, How China's Leaders Think: An Insider's Perspective on China's Reform and Its Future Implications, John Wiley & Sons, 2009.
- The Man Who Changed China: The Life and Legacy of Jiang Zemin, 2005.