Chen Shen is a Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Political Science at Texas A&M University. His research interests encompass political economy, authoritarian politics, nationalism, and game theory with a particular focus on Northeast Asia. Before enrolling at Texas A&M University, Chen earned a Master of International Affairs from the School of Global Policy and Strategy at UC San Diego and a B.A. in International Politics from Renmin University of China. In his dissertation, Chen delves into the strategies the Chinese government employs to manage internal and external pressures. He examines the impact of Xi Jinping's anti-corruption campaign on ordinary citizens and low-ranking officials to understand its response to internal challenges. In addressing external pressures, Chen analyzes how the Chinese government leverages foreign aid provision to counteract the influence of international human rights pressure.