UChicago CEAS Presents New Teach-In Series - "Reimagining Politics and Confronting the Present in China and the World"

Published on January 25, 2023 

The rapid shifts that China has undergone over the past three years—from the implementation of Zero-COVID policies to the lifting of most restrictions and ensuing chaos, from a wave of protests in November to the detentions and arrests of participants—have left many confused and concerned. Communication with colleagues, friends, and family members in China has become difficult, as public expressions of social concern may be criminalized. The intensification of anti-Asian racism and violence within the United States, meanwhile, has exacerbated the distress of many living in-between continents and worlds. As China reopens its borders and the prospects of traveling become more real, many feel a sense of uncertainty as to what to expect next.

A new teach-in series, “Reimagining Politics and Confronting the Present in China and the World,” sponsored by the Center for East Asian Studies at the University of Chicago, aims to create a safe space where students and scholars from diverse backgrounds can gather to discuss topics of immediate concern. The series will focus on how to understand new forms of action against the backdrop of their potential criminalization, and how to foster solidarities with marginalized groups and minorities, in China and elsewhere. Attendees are encouraged to bring their questions and thoughts. 

SPEAKER SCHEDULE

Eli Friedman
(Associate Professor and Chair in the Department of International and Comparative Labor, Cornell University)
After the Lockdowns: Assessing the Present and Future of Social Resistance in China
Thursday, February 2, 2023 

Jun Li
(Associate Professor, Cheung Kong School of Journalism and Communication, Shantou University)
Retrospective of the Past Decade: Feminist Movement, Social Media, and the State
Thursday, March 30, 2023