Holds a Ph.D. and degrees in history, political science and Chinese. Joined Sciences Po in 1973. Lived in Tokyo from 1970 to 1972 and served as the French Cultural Attaché in Hong Kong from 1976 to 1978.
Former policy analyst at the Policy Planning Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (1979-1981); former director of CERI (1985-1994) and former vice-president for research at Sciences Po (1995-2001). Spent five years (2002-2007) in Beijing where he created and led the Antenne franco-chinoise de sciences humaines et sociales at Tsinghua University.
A regular columnist for Ouest France; member of the editorial board of Vingtième siècle and correspondent forL’Histoire. A regular contributor to Revue française de science politique, Politique étrangère, Politique internationale, Critique internationale, Pacific Review, Asia Europe Journal ; participates in the Asia Network, of the CNRS, and the Université de tous les savoirs.
Knight of the National Order of Merit and Knight of the Order of the Legion of Honour.