Edward
Cunningham

Director, Asia Energy & Sustainability Initiative

Advising senior executives and organizations at the intersection of corporate strategy and government policy — shaping energy markets, the environment, competitiveness, and foreign investment across Asia and the global economy.

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Edward Cunningham
Ph.D.
MIT
A.M.
Harvard
B.S.
Georgetown
25+
Years of Expertise
Featured In
Areas of Expertise

Deep Knowledge Across
Critical Domains

Bridging academic rigor with real-world advisory experience across the most consequential issues in global affairs, energy, and the political economy of Asia.

Geopolitics & International Relations

US-China relations, foreign investment, international economics, competitiveness, and the evolving dynamics of great power competition in Asia and beyond.

Energy Markets & Governance

Energy policy, markets, and governance across emerging economies. Author of forthcoming book on China's energy markets during the modern reform period.

China & Chinese Economy

Three decades of firsthand experience in China since 1992. Fluent Mandarin speaker with deep expertise in China's political economy, development, and global integration.

Corporate & Non-Market Strategy

The intersection of corporate strategy and government policy, advising private and publicly listed companies in energy, environmental, technology, and financial services.

Philanthropy & Private Wealth

Leading research on Chinese philanthropy through the China Philanthropy Project, creating systematic databases and examining trends in contemporary giving.

Environment & Sustainability

Sustainable development, climate policy, and the role of US-China cooperation in addressing environmental challenges and the global energy transition.

Edward Cunningham speaking at a policy forum in China
Biography

Across Borders,
Markets, and Institutions

Professor Edward Cunningham is Director of the Asia Energy and Sustainability Initiative at Harvard Kennedy School.

His teaching, research, and writing focus on the intersection of corporate strategy and government policy, especially as these shape energy markets, the environment, competitiveness, and foreign investment. Concentrating largely on the political economy of Asia and China's role in the global economy, he first lived in China in 1992 and speaks Mandarin and Italian.

Beyond the classroom, Professor Cunningham advises private and publicly listed companies in the energy, environmental, technology, and financial services sectors, helping leaders navigate geopolitical landscapes and develop strategies for the evolving Asia market.

He was selected as a Fulbright Fellow to the People's Republic of China, during which time he conducted his doctoral fieldwork as a visiting fellow at Tsinghua University.

Ph.D., MIT
A.M., Harvard University
Fulbright Fellow
B.S., Georgetown
Selected Publications

Research & Writing

Peer-reviewed research, policy reports, and commentary shaping the conversation on energy, governance, and China's evolving role in the world.

Research Report
Powering Bangladesh's Future: Risks and Opportunities in Solar Energy Deployment
Cunningham, E. — Rajawali Foundation Institute for Asia, Ash Center, Harvard Kennedy School, 2024
Research Report
Clean Energy Expansion Models: A Comparative Analysis of US State Approaches and Implications for Bangladesh
Cunningham, E. and Jordan, P. — Rajawali Foundation Institute for Asia, 2024
Research Report
China's Most Generous: Examining Trends in Contemporary Chinese Philanthropy
Edward Cunningham and Yunxin Li — The Rajawali Foundation Institute for Asia's China Philanthropy Project, August 2023
Commentary
Jiang Zemin Propelled China's Economic Rise in the World, Leaving his Successors to Deal with the Massive Inequality that Followed
Edward Cunningham — The Conversation, December 2022
Research Paper
Understanding CCP Resilience: Surveying Chinese Public Opinion Through Time
Edward Cunningham, Anthony Saich, and Jessie Turiel — July 2020
Journal Article
To Serve the People: Income, Region and Citizen Attitudes towards Governance in China (2003–2016)
Jesse Turiel, Edward Cunningham, and Anthony Saich — The China Quarterly, April 2019
Book Chapter
Fueling the Miracle: China's Energy Governance and Reform
In China Today, China Tomorrow: Domestic Politics, Economy, and Society, Ed. Joseph Fewsmith — Rowman & Littlefield, 2010
Journal Article
Greener Plants, Grayer Skies? A Report from the Front Lines of China's Energy Sector
Edward S. Steinfeld, Richard K. Lester, and Edward A. Cunningham — Energy Policy, May 2009
Teaching

Executive Education
& Academic Programs

Faculty leadership across Harvard Kennedy School's premier executive programs in Asia, energy, and global business strategy.

Global Business Leaders Program

Harvard Kennedy School · Faculty Co-Chair

Leading executives through the intersection of global markets, government policy, and corporate strategy in an era of rapid change.

China Business Leaders Program

Harvard Kennedy School · Faculty Co-Chair

Preparing senior leaders to navigate the complexities of China's evolving business landscape and political economy.

Asia Energy Business Leaders Program

Harvard Kennedy School · Faculty Co-Chair

Exploring energy markets, governance, and sustainability across Asia's rapidly transforming economies.

China Leaders in Finance Program

Harvard Kennedy School · Faculty Co-Chair

Equipping financial sector leaders with strategic insight into China's economic reforms and global financial integration.

Teaching Interests

Global Strategy Chinese Economy & Business US-China Relations Emerging Market Economies Comparative Politics Non-Market Strategy Sustainable Business Energy Markets & Governance Strategic Management Corporate Strategy Cross-cultural Management
Ash Center event at Harvard Kennedy School
In the Media

Commentary &
Media Appearances

Providing expert analysis on energy, China, and global affairs for leading international outlets.

NPR Morning Edition

China's Xi Jinping Embarks on His Third 5-Year Term as Communist Party Boss

October 2022
The Conversation

Jiang Zemin Propelled China's Economic Rise in the World

December 2022
Harvard Kennedy School

What is the Future of China's Private Sector?

Summer 2022
Rajawali Foundation

China's Climate Face-offs and Trade-offs

December 2021
Rajawali Foundation

Is Climate Change the Path to Greater US-China Cooperation?

May 2021
NPR / Forbes / PBS

Why is China Placing a Global Bet on Coal?

Featured Analysis
The New York Times / Bloomberg

The Faces of China's New Philanthropy

Featured Analysis
Video

Talks &
Presentations

Advice to the New Administration on China

Harvard Kennedy School · Ash Center

Sustainable Economic Recovery and China

Harvard Kennedy School · Rajawali Foundation

China's Most Generous

China Philanthropy Project · Ash Center

Collaboration

How We Can
Work Together

Professor Cunningham brings decades of frontline experience across geopolitics, energy, and the China landscape to speaking, teaching, and advisory engagements.

Keynotes &
Panel Discussions

Thought-provoking presentations for corporate, academic, and policy audiences worldwide.

  • US-China Relations & Geopolitics
  • Energy Transition & Climate
  • China's Economic Future
  • Asian Philanthropy & Wealth
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Executive Education
& Coaching

Custom programs, guest lectures, and senior executive coaching on strategy, governance, and the political economy of Asia.

  • Custom Executive Programs
  • Senior Leadership Coaching
  • Guest Lectures & Seminars
  • Faculty Collaboration
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Advisory &
Strategic Counsel

Trusted guidance for organizations navigating complex geopolitical and energy landscapes.

  • Energy & Environmental Policy
  • Geopolitical Risk Assessment
  • Board Governance
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Edward Cunningham
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Conversation

Whether you're interested in a keynote, executive education, or strategic advisory — use the form to share details about your engagement and we'll be in touch.

  • Affiliation
    Harvard Kennedy School
    Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation
  • Faculty Profile
    hks.harvard.edu

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