The New East Asian Studies Podcasts in the Age of AI

How did commerce, law, and politics shape the rise of modern capitalism? In this episode, we explore the political and economic history of Argentina’s transformation from colony to republic, tracing the evolution of commerce, property, and state-building. We discuss how merchants and capitalists navigated political upheavals, the transition from Natural Law to formalized property rights, and the role of liberal intellectuals in crafting a centralized political economy. Drawing parallels to the broader Atlantic world, we also examine mechanisms of pre-industrial commerce—shops, markets, trade networks, and banking—that laid the foundation for modern capitalism. What can Argentina’s struggles tell us about the connections between economic justice, political institutions, and the global economy? Join us for a deep dive into how trade, commodities, and legal frameworks shaped a nation’s economic destiny. Economic history and capitalism Political history of commerce Transformation of trade networks Atlantic world economic changes Property rights and liberalism Pre-industrial commerce and trade Capitalism and state-building Merchants and political upheaval Economic justice and property law Global trade and legal systems Argentina’s economic history Natural Law to property formalization Buenos Aires colonial and republican transition Development of Argentine capitalism Shops, markets, and trade networks Commercial law in 19th-century Argentina Pre-industrial stages of capitalism Political foundations of property law Statehood and liberal republicanism in Argentina Banking and economic justice in the Atlantic world

What is objectivity, and how has it evolved? In this episode, we explore historical epistemology through the works of Lorraine Daston, Peter Galison, and Ian Hacking. We discuss how scientific practices and visual culture shaped the concept of objectivity, tracing its history from "truth-to-nature" ideals to "trained judgment" in disciplines like anatomy, crystallography, and astronomy. We also highlight Ian Hacking's reflections on the philosophical uses of history, exploring how concepts emerge and transform through styles of reasoning, language, and historical contexts. From Michel Foucault's influence on intellectual history to the creation of scientific personas, we uncover the dynamic relationship between seeing, knowing, and being. Join us to rethink how knowledge is created, preserved, and challenged through history and philosophy. Historical epistemology History of objectivity in science Lorraine Daston and Peter Galison Ian Hacking historical ontology Michel Foucault and intellectual history Evolution of scientific concepts Truth-to-nature vs objectivity Trained judgment in science History of scientific atlases Seeing and knowing in epistemology Scientific images and knowledge production Atlas images in empirical sciences Objectivity and scientific personas Ian Hacking’s styles of reasoning Lorraine Daston Objectivity analysis Michel Foucault’s influence on epistemology Emergence of concepts through language Collective sight in scientific communities Historical ontology in philosophy The role of atlases in shaping scientific practice

How did capitalism evolve, and what role did the global economy play in its development? In this episode, we explore economic history, focusing on Sven Beckert’s Empire of Cotton and foundational Marxist critiques of capitalism. We uncover how European imperialism, slave labor, and industrial innovation reshaped global economies, creating vast inequalities and modern capitalist structures that persist to this day. Drawing on key insights from Marx's Capital and other writings, we discuss how labor exploitation, commodification, and class struggles became central to capitalism's growth. What can this history tell us about the relationship between power, economics, and inequality? Join us as we dive into the history of capital, empire, and labor to rethink the origins of modern economic systems. Economic history of capitalism Global capitalism origins Empire of Cotton analysis Marxist theory of capitalism Capitalism and imperialism Labor exploitation and capital Global economy and industrialization Economic inequality and capitalism Marx’s Capital Historical evolution of global markets Sven Beckert Empire of Cotton Marx and Engels on capitalism Slave labor in capitalist history Industrial Revolution and capital Class struggle and surplus value Global commodification of labor Cotton industry and modern capitalism Marx’s critique of labor exploitation Capitalism’s imperial roots Labor, capital, and inequality in history

In this episode, we explore In Search of Admiration and Respect, Yanqiu Zheng’s insightful book on Chinese cultural diplomacy in the United States between 1875 and 1974. Faced with Western misunderstandings and stereotypes, China sought to reshape its image through cultural initiatives. The discussion highlights key players, including the China Institute in America and the Nationalist government, and their contrasting approaches to promoting Chinese culture abroad. We delve into the concept of “infrastructure of persuasion,” where American philanthropy and cultural institutions influenced intercultural exchanges, often within a power-imbalanced global context. Join us for a nuanced exploration of how China navigated cultural diplomacy to combat Orientalism and gain international respect. Chinese cultural diplomacy China Institute in America Orientalism and cultural exchange Yanqiu Zheng book Sino-American cultural relations Chinese cultural initiatives in the U.S. Nationalist government diplomacy strategies "Infrastructure of persuasion" in cultural diplomacy Chinese self-representation in Western media U.S.-China relations in the 20th century China’s cultural diplomacy during high imperialism Role of American philanthropy in Sino-U.S. relations Yanqiu Zheng In Search of Admiration and Respect China Institute and Nationalist government collaboration Archival insights into Chinese cultural diplomacy

South Korea faces a demographic crisis characterized by an alarmingly low birth rate and a rapidly aging population. In this episode, we discuss the cultural, economic, and social factors contributing to these trends, including shifting attitudes toward marriage, family, and the impact of forced early retirement policies. We examine the government’s efforts to boost the birth rate, why financial incentives have failed, and the challenges posed to national security, particularly for the military. The episode also explores the potential of increased immigration as a solution, the societal implications of such a shift, and how South Korea’s approach compares with strategies in other East Asian nations like Japan and China. Join us for an insightful analysis of one of the most pressing issues facing South Korea today. South Korea low birth rate Aging population crisis Forced retirement in South Korea East Asian demographic challenges Immigration policies in Asia Cultural attitudes toward marriage in South Korea South Korea’s ineffective birth rate incentives Economic anxieties and population decline Early retirement and labor market challenges East Asia demographic comparisons South Korea military and demographic crisis Contractual mandatory retirement policies in Korea Immigration as a solution to aging population Birth rate policies in Japan, China, and Korea South Korea’s aging workforce reforms

In this episode, Professor Taylor Fravel of MIT explores the evolution of China’s military strategy since 1949, analyzing its transformation from preparing for total war to focusing on localized conflicts and informatised warfare. Drawing insights from his acclaimed book Active Defense, Fravel discusses the goals and components of China’s current military strategy, with a special emphasis on Taiwan, territorial disputes, and nuclear policy. He highlights key moments of strategic change, such as in 1956, 1980, and 1993, and explains the conditions under which China has adjusted its defense policies. China military strategy People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Taylor Fravel lecture Informatised warfare Taiwan defense policy China’s military transformation since 1949 Active Defense book by Taylor Fravel PLA strategic guidelines evolution South China Sea island-building strategy China’s response to the Quad Informatised conflict in PLA military policy Taylor Fravel on China’s 1956, 1980, 1993 strategies PLA nuclear strategy and territorial disputes China military strategy Q&A session Communist Party’s influence on PLA strategic shifts

This book rewrites the story of classical Chinese philosophy, which has always been considered the single most creative and vibrant chapter in the history of Chinese philosophy. Works attributed to Confucius, Mozi, Mencius, Laozi, Zhuangzi, Xunzi, Han Feizi and many others represent the very origins of moral and political thinking in China. As testimony to their enduring stature, in recent decades many Chinese intellectuals, and even leading politicians, have turned to those classics, especially Confucian texts, for alternative or complementary sources of moral authority and political legitimacy. Therefore, philosophical inquiries into core normative values embedded in those classical texts are crucial to the ongoing scholarly discussion about China as China turns more culturally inward. It can also contribute to the spirited contemporary debate about the nature of philosophical reasoning, especially in the non-Western traditions.This book offers a new narrative and interpretative framework about the origins of moral-political philosophy that tracks how the three normative values, humaneness, justice, and personal freedom, were formulated, reformulated, and contested by early Chinese philosophers in their effort to negotiate the relationship among three distinct domains, the personal, the familial, and the political. Such efforts took place as those thinkers were reimagining a new moral-political order, debating its guiding norms, and exploring possible sources within the context of an evolving understanding of Heaven and its relationship with the humans. Tao Jiang argues that the competing visions in that debate can be characterized as a contestation between partialist humaneness and impartialist justice as the guiding norm for the newly imagined moral-political order, with the Confucians, the Mohists, the Laoists, and the so-called fajia thinkers being the major participants, constituting the mainstream philosophical project during this period. Thinkers lined up differently along the justice-humaneness spectrum with earlier ones maintaining some continuity between the two normative values (or at least trying to accommodate both to some extent) while later ones leaning more toward their exclusivity in the political/public domain. Zhuangzi and the Zhuangists were the outliers of the mainstream moral-political debate who rejected the very parameter of humaneness versus justice in that discourse. They were a lone voice advocating personal freedom, but the Zhuangist expressions of freedom were self-restricted to the margins of the political world and the interiority of one's heartmind. Such a take can shed new light on how the Zhuangist approach to personal freedom would profoundly impact the development of this idea in pre-modern Chinese political and intellectual history. East Asian Studies Podcast East Asian Studies Chinese History Podcast Chinese History Chinese religious history Classical Chinese philosophy Confucianism and Chinese politics Mozi, Mencius, Laozi, Zhuangzi philosophy Tao Jiang philosophical interpretations Confucian texts and political legitimacy Chinese moral-political thought Early Chinese philosophical debates Confucianism and humaneness Zhuangzi and personal freedom Chinese normative values Heaven and moral order in Chinese philosophy Mohist and Laoist philosophical traditions Humaneness versus justice in Chinese philosophy Chinese intellectual history Pre-modern Chinese political thought Chinese philosophical reasoning Ancient Chinese normative values Confucian and Mohist debates Fajia (Legalist) philosophical impact Personal freedom in Zhuangist philosophy Chinese moral authority and governance Heaven's role in Chinese political thought

This episode celebrates the life and scholarship of Ezra Vogel, one of the most influential figures in East Asian studies, and examines his groundbreaking work on Deng Xiaoping. Through a panel discussion featuring Vogel’s colleagues, family, and students, we explore his contributions to understanding East Asia, his mentorship of a global network of scholars, and his dedication to cross-cultural dialogue. The discussion highlights Vogel’s seminal publications, including Japan as Number One and Deng Xiaoping and the Transformation of China. Dive into Vogel’s reflections on Deng, China’s boldest reformist, and his pivotal role in reshaping global history through economic reform and modernization. Ezra Vogel Deng Xiaoping East Asian studies Modern Chinese history Cross-cultural scholarship Ezra Vogel's Japan as Number One Deng Xiaoping’s leadership legacy Cultural Revolution reform era East Asian economic modernization Ezra Vogel panel discussion Deng Xiaoping reforms and Tiananmen Square Ezra Vogel Lionel Gelber Prize winner Deng Xiaoping and the Transformation of China analysis East Asia cross-cultural mentorship Ezra Vogel’s impact on global scholarship

Winner of the 2022 Joseph W. Elder Prize in the Indian Social SciencesMerchants of Virtue explores the question of what it meant to be Hindu in precolonial South Asia. Divya Cherian presents a fine-grained study of everyday life and local politics in the kingdom of Marwar in eighteenth-century western India to uncover how merchants enforced their caste ideals of vegetarianism and bodily austerity as universal markers of Hindu identity. Using legal strategies and alliances with elites, these merchants successfully remade the category of “Hindu,” setting it in contrast to “Untouchable” in a process that reconfigured Hinduism in caste terms. In a history pertinent to understanding India today, Cherian establishes the centrality of caste to the early-modern Hindu self and to its imagination of inadmissible others. South Asian Studies Podcast Indian History Podcast Indian Anthropology Podcast Merchants of Virtue by Divya Cherian Precolonial South Asia history Hindu identity in precolonial India Marwar kingdom history Caste and Hinduism in India Vegetarianism and bodily austerity in Hinduism Eighteenth-century India social history Hindu and Untouchable distinctions Caste ideals in precolonial India Early-modern Hindu self-definition Social politics in Marwar India Hinduism and caste in historical perspective Religious identity in precolonial South Asia Caste and legal strategies in India Merchants and elites in Marwar Indian caste system history Caste and Hindu identity reconfiguration Social dynamics in precolonial Indian kingdoms Hinduism and social hierarchy in India Cultural history of western India Joseph W. Elder Prize winner book Understanding caste in Indian history

How did U.S. immigration policies cultivate the "model minority" narrative for Asian Americans? In this episode, we explore Madeline Hsu’s The Good Immigrants, which examines a century of Chinese elite migration to the U.S. through the lens of immigration exemptions for intellectuals, businessmen, and students. From the earliest restrictions targeting Chinese laborers to exemptions for those with professional skills or Western education, we discuss how U.S. policies shaped the characteristics of Chinese migrants. Through stories of figures like Madame Chiang Kai-shek and I. M. Pei, we delve into how geopolitical events such as World War II and the Cold War further transformed Chinese immigrants into symbols of American competitiveness and modernity. Join us as we uncover how talent and training created pathways to citizenship for a select few while reinforcing broader immigration inequalities. Chinese elite migration to the U.S. Immigration policies and Asian Americans Model minority narrative in immigration U.S. immigration exemptions for students Cold War and Chinese immigration Chinese professionals and American modernity History of Chinese immigrants in the U.S. 1965 Immigration Act and Asian Americans Immigration and American economic competitiveness Western-educated Chinese in the U.S. Madeline Hsu The Good Immigrants analysis Madame Chiang Kai-shek and U.S.-China relations I. M. Pei’s story as a Chinese immigrant Chinese students as Cold War refugees U.S. immigration laws and Chinese professionals Talent-based immigration during the Cold War American influence on Chinese modernization World War II and Chinese immigration policies Professional skills and pathways to citizenship Legacy of U.S. immigration exemptions Asian American Studies Race and Ethnicity

Julia Andrews's extraordinary study of art, artists, and artistic policy during the first three decades of the People's Republic of China makes a major contribution to our understanding of modern China. From 1949 to 1979 the Chinese government controlled the lives and work of the country's artists--these were also years of extreme isolation from international artistic dialogue. During this period the Chinese Communist Party succeeded in eradicating most of the artistic styles and techniques it found politically repugnant. By 1979, traditional landscape painting had been replaced by a new style and subject that was strikingly different from both contemporary Western art and that of other Chinese areas such as Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Singapore.Through vivid firsthand accounts, Andrews recreates the careers of many individual artists who were forced to submit to a vacillating policy regarding style, technique, medium, and genre. She discusses the cultural controls that the government used, the ways in which artists responded, and the works of art that emerged as a result. She particularly emphasizes the influence of the Soviet Union on Chinese art and the problems it created for the practice of traditional painting.This book opens the way to new, stimulating comparisons of Western and Eastern cultures and will be welcomed by art historians, political scientists, and scholars of Asia. East Asian Studies Podcast Chinese History Podcast Art under the People's Republic of China Julia Andrews study on Chinese art Chinese Communist Party and art control Art policy in Mao’s China Chinese art from 1949 to 1979 Soviet influence on Chinese art Traditional vs. revolutionary Chinese painting Cultural controls on Chinese artists Artistic expression in Communist China Chinese landscape painting evolution Art censorship in Maoist China Modern Chinese art history Western vs. Eastern art comparisons Chinese artists' resistance to political pressure Impact of isolation on Chinese art Chinese art during the Cultural Revolution Art and politics in modern China Chinese artistic styles post-1949 Influence of Soviet art on China Chinese art transformation under communism Art history and politics in China Artistic techniques in modern China Chinese cultural policies and art

What is the state of Tibetan studies today, and how did we get here? In this episode, we dive into the history and current challenges of global Tibetology with insights from Professor Shen Weirong, a leading expert in Tibetan studies. We explore the evolution of Tibetology, from the missionary scholars and pioneers of the 20th century to its golden age in the 1990s and the subsequent decline in Western interest. Professor Shen reflects on the contributions of figures like Giuseppe Tucci, the influence of post-colonial critique, and how political, social, and cultural trends continue to shape this interdisciplinary field. Why has interest in Tibetan studies waned in the West? How are institutions in China and Europe navigating these shifts? Join us as we uncover the past, present, and potential future of Tibetan studies on a global scale. Global Tibetology history Tibetan studies in decline Western interest in Tibetan studies Tibetan Buddhism academic research Evolution of Tibetology in China and Europe Post-colonial criticism in Tibetan studies Giuseppe Tucci and early Tibetologists Challenges facing modern Tibetology Influence of politics on Tibetan research Regional and interdisciplinary Tibetan studies Professor Shen Weirong Tibetology insights Tibetan studies in Austria and Hungary 1990s Tibet craze and its decline Western missionary contributions to Tibetology Textual studies to regional Tibetan research Academic trends in Tibetan studies Political impact on Tibetan scholarship Decline of Tibetan studies in Western academia China’s role in global Tibetan research Future of Tibetan studies in humanities and social sciences Modern Tibet Tibetan Studies Modern Tibetan Studies Tibet podcast

This book traces the changing and long-term history of the vast Brahmaputra valley region, that has distinct languages, faiths, monastic traditions, and lay-monk relationship, in different orders and gender and household relations. It examines the political and economic order of Buddhist, Vaisnava, Saiva, Tantric, and Sufi teachers and their disciples, students, and adherents in the northeast India. In the course of the nineteenth century, war, changes in revenue regimes, and the growth of the plantation economies fragmented this landscape and dissolved the relationships. The economic and military processes also reshaped the moral-political economy in which wives of monastic males, female cultivators and labour-servants were the key constituents. These substantive changes were obscured by the language used by colonial officials to describe monks as 'savages', and female-dependent communities as 'primitive tribes'. After the formation of the new nation, Indian historians and anthropologists began to write histories using colonial terms. In the process, both colonial and postcolonial historians erased the erstwhile monastic relationships across the region. They contributed to a widespread forgetting of the women who had made it all possible. The study examines how the new nation as well as its new history rests on many layers of forgetting. History of Brahmaputra Valley Northeast India cultural history Monastic traditions in India Women in Indian economic history Colonial impact on Indian regions Moral-political economy in India Buddhist, Vaisnava, Saiva traditions Gender and household relations in history Colonial and postcolonial historiography Plantation economies and cultural change Brahmaputra valley religious history Women in monastic communities Colonial depictions of Indian monks Female cultivators in Northeast India Monastic relationships and fragmentation Sufi and Tantric traditions in India Plantation economy and social transformation Role of women in moral-political economy Indian historians and colonial narratives Forgotten histories of Northeast Indian women

What is history, and how do we write it? In this episode, we explore how historians have approached their craft over the past century, focusing on concepts of objectivity, temporality, and the evolution of historical discourse. We examine Peter Novick's exploration of American historians' struggle to present the past "as it really happened" and Reinhart Koselleck's groundbreaking theories on historical time, social reality, and the language of history. How has the aspiration for historical objectivity evolved? What makes modernity a product of our awareness of history itself? Join us as we bridge foundational ideas in historiography with contemporary cultural studies and uncover how history not only records the past but shapes our understanding of society and knowledge. What is history? Historical objectivity in historiography Reinhart Koselleck historical theory Peter Novick and American historians Modernity and historical awareness Temporality in historical process Social reality in history Evolution of historical discourse History as a discipline vs discourse Historiography and modernism Peter Novick That Noble Dream Reinhart Koselleck Begriffsgeschichte History's role in modernity Historical temporality and acceleration Conflict and ethical reflection in history Language of historians and its evolution Barthes, Foucault, Derrida on history Social structures in historical analysis Historicism and the concept of modernity Writing history as a cultural practice

What drives the high educational and economic attainment of Asian Americans? In this episode, we explore The Asian American Achievement Paradox by Jennifer Lee and Min Zhou, which delves into the intersection of immigration policies, community resources, and cultural expectations to uncover the factors behind this phenomenon. We examine how "hyper-selectivity" in immigration shapes the "success frame" that drives academic achievement, while also creating an intense pressure to conform to narrow definitions of success. What are the institutional and societal forces at play? How does the "model minority" stereotype obscure the complexities and consequences of this narrative? Join us as we navigate the nuanced realities of Asian American success, cultural stereotypes, and the broader implications for meritocracy and racial equity. Asian American achievement in education Model minority myth Success frame and cultural expectations Hyper-selectivity in immigration Institutional support for Asian American students Academic success among immigrant groups Educational attainment and racial stereotypes Sociological perspectives on meritocracy Pressures of academic excellence Racial equity and immigrant success Jennifer Lee Asian American Achievement Paradox Min Zhou on Asian American success Hyper-selectivity and immigration policies Educational resources in Asian American communities Public school support for Asian American students Costs of the success frame for Asian Americans Vietnamese and Chinese second-generation immigrants Stereotypes of discipline in Asian American education Achievement paradox and racial identity Sociological analysis of Asian American success

In this episode, we explore the driving forces behind China's foreign policy, including its response to U.S. containment strategies, the trend of counter-globalization, and the role of digital technology. Drawing insights from the perspectives of YAN Xuetong, a leading Chinese academic, we discuss how Beijing navigates strategic competition with Washington while maintaining its opening-up policies initiated in 1978. The conversation also covers China’s focus on digital cooperation through initiatives like the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and its opposition to Cold War-era ideological divides in global technology partnerships. Join us to better understand the complexities of China’s approach to achieving national rejuvenation in a rapidly evolving global landscape. China's foreign policy US-China strategic competition Counter-globalization trends Digital technology in geopolitics Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) Beijing’s opening-up policy National rejuvenation goals Cold War mentality Global technology cooperation Major power competition YAN Xuetong analysis China-US containment strategy Digital BRI projects China’s national rejuvenation Beijing’s response to counter-globalization Strategic obstacles to China’s rise Tsinghua University international relations Innovation in Chinese foreign policy Post-Cold War globalization China’s approach to digital innovation

In this episode, we explore the rise of Gönpo Namgyel, a minor Tibetan chieftain from Eastern Kham who challenged the power centers of Central Tibet and Qing China during the 19th century. Situated on the periphery, the Kham region was more than just a battleground between empires—it was a dynamic political landscape where local leaders actively shaped their own destinies. Drawing from Tibetan and Chinese primary sources, we examine the governance of Kham, its cultural milieu, and the complex interactions between the Qing court, Lhasa, and regional chieftains. This story sheds light on the overlooked agency of borderland communities and challenges traditional historiographical narratives that portray peripheries as passive. Join us as we reframe Sino-Tibetan relations through a local lens, uncovering the rich history of this contested region. Sino-Tibetan conflicts in the 19th century Kham regional politics and governance Eastern Tibet history Qing China and Central Tibet relations Frontier politics in Tibetan history Local agency in Sino-Tibetan relations Tibetan chieftain Gönpo Namgyel Borderland dynamics in East Asia Central-periphery relations in Tibet Nineteenth-century Tibetan history Gönpo Namgyel and Kham history Sino-Tibetan relations in Eastern Tibet Governance of Kham during Qing rule Tibetan and Chinese historical sources on Kham Power struggles between Lhasa and Qing China Local resistance in Tibetan frontier regions Social-cultural dynamics of Eastern Tibet Regional identity formation in Kham Role of chieftains in Sino-Tibetan conflicts Challenges to historiographical narratives on Tibet

In this episode, we explore the concept of connected histories as developed by historian Sanjay Subrahmanyam. Moving beyond traditional narratives of isolated regions, we examine the deep interconnections between Europe, South Asia, and the broader Eurasian world from the 15th to 18th centuries. From the Portuguese presence in Asia to the Persianate influence in the Bay of Bengal and the global flow of commodities, ideas, and power, we reveal how regions historically interacted and shaped each other's development. Drawing on insights from Subrahmanyam's Explorations in Connected History and his reflections on early modern Eurasia, we discuss the importance of rethinking area studies and embracing global linkages to understand early modernity. Join us as we navigate empires, trade, travel, and acculturation across vast geographies. Connected histories in Eurasia Global history and early modernity Sanjay Subrahmanyam’s connected histories Portuguese presence in Asia Eurasian trade and cultural exchange Early modern history of empires Persianate influence in the Bay of Bengal European-Asian interactions Cross-cultural exchange in the Indian Ocean Global historical networks From the Tagus to the Ganges analysis Early modern empires: Mughal, Ottoman, Portuguese Sanjay Subrahmanyam historical method Travel, trade, and diplomacy in early modern Asia Persian cultural impact on South Asia Indian Ocean trade networks Historiography of colonial and precolonial India Cross-regional studies in early modern Eurasia Asian views on Portuguese expansion The role of merchants, diplomats, and explorers

The Labrang Tibetan Buddhist Monastery in Amdo and its extended support community are one of the largest and most famous in Tibetan history. This crucially important and little-studied community is on the northeast corner of the Tibetan Plateau in modern Gansu Province, in close proximity to Chinese, Mongol, and Muslim communities. It is Tibetan but located in China; it was founded by Mongols, and associated with Muslims. Its wide-ranging Tibetan religious institutions are well established and serve as the foundations for the community's social and political infrastructures. The Labrang community's borderlands location, the prominence of its religious institutions, and the resilience and identity of its nomadic and semi-nomadic cultures were factors in the growth and survival of the monastery and its enormous estate.This book tells the story of the status and function of the Tibetan Buddhist religion in its fully developed monastic and public dimensions. It is an interdisciplinary project that examines the history of social and political conflict and compromise between the different local ethnic groups. The book presents new perspectives on Qing Dynasty and Republican-era Chinese politics, with far-reaching implications for contemporary China. It brings a new understanding of Sino-Tibetan-Mongol-Muslim histories and societies. This volume will be of interest to undergraduate and graduate student majors in Tibetan and Buddhist studies, in Chinese and Mongol studies, and to scholars of Asian social and political studies. History of Tibetan Buddhism Labrang Tibetan Buddhist Monastery Sino-Tibetan relations in history Borderland communities in Tibet Qing Dynasty and Republican China politics Tibetan Buddhist religious institutions Nomadic and semi-nomadic cultures in Asia Social and political history of Tibet Multi-ethnic communities in China Buddhist monasticism and estate system Labrang Monastery history and influence Amdo Tibetan Plateau cultural history Tibetan-Mongol-Muslim relations in Gansu Qing Dynasty policies in Tibetan regions Sino-Tibetan-Mongol borderland politics Nomadic resilience in Tibetan societies Religious institutions in Tibetan public life Republican-era Chinese policies in Tibet Interdisciplinary studies on Sino-Tibetan history Asian religious, social, and political infrastructure Inner Asian Studies Tibetan Studies Modern Tibet Tibetan History Religious History

How has xenophobia shaped America’s past, present, and future? In this episode, we examine the roots of xenophobia in the United States, from the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 to present-day immigration policies. Drawing on insights from Erika Lee's At America’s Gates, we explore how the U.S. transformed into a "gatekeeping nation" through laws, surveillance, and deportation aimed at controlling immigration and racial boundaries. We also discuss stories of resilience and survival among immigrants, including Chinese laborers, refugees, and other marginalized communities who fought against discrimination. By connecting historical exclusion with current debates on immigration and race, we reveal how xenophobia remains a powerful force—and what we can do to challenge it. Join us for a conversation about history, justice, and solidarity. U.S. immigration history History of xenophobia in America Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 Gatekeeping nation concept Race and immigration laws U.S. border enforcement history Surveillance and deportation policies Asian American exclusion Immigrant resilience and history Racism in American immigration Erika Lee At America’s Gates Chinese immigrant exclusion history 19th-century U.S. immigration laws Chinese laborers and deportation Immigration controls in American history Race and class in U.S. gatekeeping Angel Island immigration station Legacy of Chinese exclusion laws Immigration identification policies Modern parallels to historical xenophobia

How do gender, power, and social structures intersect in history, culture, and academia? In this episode, we explore key ideas surrounding gender theory, intersectionality, and their impact on society. Drawing on foundational works from influential scholars and groundbreaking studies, we examine critical debates about how gender intersects with race, class, and institutional power. We discuss how gendered hierarchies have shaped social systems, explore challenges in feminist and intersectional studies, and look at how these perspectives continue to evolve in addressing systemic inequalities. Join us for a thought-provoking discussion that challenges conventional views and offers fresh insights into the complexity of gender and power in our modern world. Gender theory and intersectionality Power structures and social systems Feminist studies in history Gender and race intersectionality Intersectional feminism analysis Social inequality and gender Gendered hierarchies in institutions Gender studies and cultural theory Race, class, and power dynamics Modern feminist scholarship Intersectionality in feminist thought Gender and social power structures Academic perspectives on gender theory Historical feminist movements Intersectional critiques of institutions Gender representation in cultural studies Feminist analysis of race and class Structural inequalities and gender Critical gender theory frameworks Power and privilege in gender studies

What is the New Qing History and why has it sparked heated debates between Chinese and Western scholars? Emerging in the 1990s, New Qing History challenged traditional narratives of the Qing dynasty, reframing it as a multi-ethnic, Manchu-centric empire rather than simply another "Chinese dynasty." We unpack the origins, key arguments, and innovations of New Qing History, as well as the contrasting receptions it received in China and the West. Why do Chinese scholars criticize it as a Western attempt to undermine China’s historical unity? How has it influenced global perspectives on empire, ethnicity, and historiography? Join us as we bridge this intellectual divide and explore how history continues to shape modern debates on identity, nationalism, and scholarship. New Qing History Qing dynasty historiography Manchu identity and empire Chinese vs Western historians Historiographical debates Qing empire and ethnicity Global history of the Qing Qing dynasty studies Manchu-Chinese relations Modern Chinese historiography Joanna Waley-Cohen Qing studies Mark Elliott Shen Weirong Cai Weijie New Qing History controversy Qing dynasty multi-ethnic empire Chinese reception of New Qing History Western perspectives on the Qing Qing historiography in China and the West Ethnicity and identity in Qing history China’s response to Western scholarship Manchu-centric narratives in Qing studies 1990s historiographical innovations

Explore the remarkable journey of ASEAN, a shining example of international cooperation and coexistence in Southeast Asia. This episode dives into the historical foundation, transformative achievements, and future challenges of this dynamic regional organization. Discover how ASEAN’s innovative collaboration model has fostered peace, economic growth, and regional stability, offering valuable lessons for a world grappling with geopolitical rivalries. Keywords: ASEAN, Southeast Asia, International Cooperation, Regional Alliances, Economic Growth, ASEAN Success Story, Kishore Mahbubani Insights, Regional Peace in Southeast Asia, ASEAN Leadership and Challenges, Geopolitical Rivals in Asia, ASEAN Secretariat Strengthening, Southeast Asian Podcast

Why Vietnam? In this episode, we explore why Vietnam deserves our attention—historically, politically, economically, and environmentally. We discuss Vietnam’s overlooked diversity, from its 50+ ethnic groups to its global diaspora, and examine its pivotal role in 20th-century conflicts, including colonial struggles, civil war, and the Vietnam War. Moving into the 21st century, Vietnam emerges as an agricultural powerhouse, a rapidly growing economy, and a country at the forefront of climate change challenges. We also highlight Vietnam’s evolving cities, its colonial and intellectual history, and its strategic geopolitical location in the Asia-Pacific. Join us as we uncover the richness and complexity of Vietnam, both as a nation and as a lens to understand global transformations. Why study Vietnam Vietnam's history and culture Vietnam War and its legacy Vietnamese diaspora Vietnam’s economic growth Climate change in Vietnam Asia-Pacific geopolitics Vietnamese nationalism Urban development in Vietnam Post-socialist economic reforms Mekong Delta climate crisis Self-Reliant Literary Group (Tự Lực Văn Đoàn) Vietnam’s ethnic diversity Republicanism vs communism in Vietnam Ho Chi Minh City urban transformation Sino-Vietnamese conflicts French colonialism in Vietnam Vietnam’s agricultural exports (rice and coffee) Vietnamese diaspora communities Geopolitical importance of Vietnam Vietnamese History Vietnam Studies Southeast Asia Southeast Asian Studies Vietnam History Podcast

Dive deep into the complex relationship between China's history, governance, and economic strategies in this podcast series. Explore Yasheng Huang’s insights from The Rise and Fall of the East and join expert discussions on the historical roots of China's authoritarianism, the pivotal 1980s liberalization period, and the challenges of Xi Jinping's leadership. Unpack how the legacy of the imperial examination system influences modern policies and what it means for innovation, reform, and potential regime change. This podcast bridges past and present, offering invaluable perspectives for understanding China's future trajectory. Chinese history Political reform Economic liberalization Authoritarian governance Global economy Innovation and creativity Cultural diversity Political stability Imperial examination system (Keju) China's Tang dynasty prosperity Mao Zedong vs. Deng Xiaoping Xi Jinping's leadership challenges Tiananmen Square protests impact China's political and economic reforms Autocracy and innovation in China Chinese Communist Party history Modern China and historical lessons Yasheng Huang The Rise and Fall of the East

How have Asian Americans transformed the U.S. political landscape over the past half-century? In this episode, we examine the rise of Asian and Pacific Islander Americans in U.S. elective office, tracing their groundbreaking political journeys. From pioneering figures to contemporary leaders, we explore their trajectories to office, the challenges they faced, and the opportunities they forged. Drawing on themes of race, gender, and nativity, we discuss how intersectionality and womanist leadership praxis illuminate the significance of Asian American representation. How have these leaders addressed systemic barriers, dismantled "model minority" and "perpetual foreigner" stereotypes, and served diverse communities at local, state, and federal levels? Join us as we explore the stories of resilience, representation, and leadership that are reshaping American politics. Asian American political history Rise of Asian Americans in U.S. politics Intersectionality and political representation Women of color in elective office Political participation of Asian Americans Asian Pacific Islander leadership in government Asian American movement from protest to politics Challenges in political representation Race, gender, and nativity in politics Political leadership and womanist praxis Asian Americans in U.S. Congress Historical barriers for Asian American politicians Women of color political leadership Breaking the “model minority” stereotype Asian immigrant political participation Asian American representation at federal and local levels Intersectionality in Asian American politics Asian Pacific Islander elected officials Feminist leadership in U.S. politics Political socialization of Asian American leaders

In this episode, we explore China’s remarkable transformation from a struggling Maoist economy to a global powerhouse, and the alleged end of its economic miracle. Drawing from Anne Stevenson-Yang's book Wild Ride, we recount her 25 years of firsthand experience living and working in China. The discussion covers pivotal moments such as Deng Xiaoping's reforms, the rise of the economic elite, the environmental costs of rapid development, and the role of the Communist Party in shaping—and ultimately stifling—reform. We examine the social and political implications of China's rise, including the 2008 Olympics, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the resurgence of Maoist-style policies under Xi Jinping. Was China's capitalist experiment ever genuine? Join us as we navigate through this dramatic and eye-opening story. China's economic rise Economic reforms in China Chinese Communist Party influence Environmental impact of growth Deng Xiaoping's reforms China's global economy Xi Jinping leadership China's political and social change History of Chinese capitalism Economic stagnation in China Anne Stevenson-Yang Wild Ride China's economic elite Maoist economy transformation 2008 Beijing Olympics impact COVID-19 and China’s economy Communist Party survival strategies Western investments in China Rise and fall of China’s economy Xi Jinping and policy shifts Environmental consequences in China Chinese Economy Chinese Politics Chinese History Chinese history podcast

In this episode, we explore the complex dynamics of US-China relations through the lens of the People's Liberation Army (PLA). Senior advisor Dr. Yawei Liu analyzes the perspectives of retired and prominent PLA figures, ranging from hawkish calls for forceful reunification of Taiwan to moderate voices advocating peaceful resolution and domestic growth. We delve into the PLA’s role in shaping public opinion, the influence of media and nationalism, and the challenges in understanding the PLA's internal consensus. Join us to uncover how these perspectives impact policy decisions and the future of global diplomacy. US-China relations People's Liberation Army (PLA) Taiwan reunification debate Chinese nationalism US-China diplomacy National security strategies Cross-strait relations International military policy Global diplomacy challenges Media influence in geopolitics PLA perspectives on Taiwan Yawei Liu Carter Center Emory University Forceful vs peaceful Taiwan reunification US-China Taiwan tensions Retired PLA figures’ influence Role of media in Chinese nationalism Taiwan policy debate in China PLA's role in public opinion Future of US-China military relations PLA internal consensus challenges

In the final panel of the Columbia University and Keio University conference, experts discuss the global ripple effects of leadership transitions in Tokyo and Washington. This conversation examines the evolving dynamics of the U.S.-China relationship, escalating tensions in Ukraine and the Middle East, and the strategic role of Japan in navigating these shifts. Speakers Yuichi Hosoya, Michito Tsuruoka, Stephen Biddle, and Zongyuan Zoe Liu, moderated by Merit Janow, provide critical insights into the challenges and opportunities shaping the global order. From economic strategies to deterrence measures and the importance of international collaboration, this session offers a comprehensive analysis of the interconnected world stage. Global politics U.S.-China relations International cooperation Ukraine conflict Middle East security Trump presidency foreign policy Japan’s role in global shifts Chinese economy and influence U.S.-China-Japan relations Columbia University Keio University conference on global politics

In this compelling panel discussion, experts from Columbia University and Keio University analyze the geopolitical and security challenges surrounding the Taiwan Strait amid leadership transitions in Tokyo and Washington. The conversation delves into U.S.-China relations under a potential second Trump administration, Japan’s defense policies, and the complexities of balancing relationships with Taiwan, China, and the U.S. Speakers Andrew J. Nathan, Thomas Christensen, Satoru Mori, and Ayumi Teraoka provide diverse perspectives on the impact of U.S. policy ambiguity, Japan's strategic role, and the risks of miscalculation in the region. Moderated by George Miller, this session offers valuable insights into the future of East Asian security and the evolving U.S.-Japan alliance. Taiwan Strait security U.S.-Japan alliance East Asia geopolitics U.S.-China relations Regional defense policy Taiwan Strait challenges U.S. policy towards Taiwan Japan-China-Taiwan relations Columbia University and Keio University conference Trump administration foreign policy impacts

Dive into the complexities of U.S.-Japan relations in Southeast Asia amidst leadership transitions and shifting geopolitical dynamics. This panel discussion, part of a conference co-hosted by Columbia University and Keio University, examines potential policy changes during a second Trump presidency, the implications of reduced U.S. engagement, and Japan's evolving role in a multipolar world. Featuring insights from Ambassador Derek Mitchell, Ambassador Masafumi Ishii, Ken Jimbo, and Lien-Hang Nguyen, with moderation by Ann Marie Murphy, the conversation explores strategies for fostering cooperation, engaging with the Global South, and maintaining regional stability in an unpredictable political climate. Don't miss this expert analysis of the future of Southeast Asian security and global politics. U.S.-Japan relations Southeast Asia security International diplomacy Leadership transitions Regional stability U.S. foreign policy under Trump Japan’s role in Southeast Asia Global South engagement strategies Columbia University Keio University conference Southeast Asia geopolitical challenges

Explore the dynamic intersection of leadership changes in Tokyo and Washington and their implications for East Asian security. This panel discussion, co-hosted by Columbia University and Keio University, delves into critical challenges on the Korean peninsula and the evolving U.S.-Japan alliance. Featuring insights from prominent scholars, policymakers, and global advisors, this session is a must-listen for anyone interested in international relations and security studies. Speakers include Junya Nishino, Ambassador Kathleen Stephens, Scott Snyder, and Carol Gluck, with moderation by Gerald Curtis. Opening remarks by Duy Linh Nguyen Tu, Lien-Hang Nguyen, and Yuichi Hosoya set the stage for a thought-provoking dialogue, complemented by an introductory video from Ambassador Park Cheol-hee of South Korea. Join us for this insightful conversation shaping the future of East Asian geopolitics. Leadership transitions East Asian security International relations U.S.-Japan alliance Korean peninsula Tokyo and Washington politics U.S.-Japan geopolitical strategy Korean peninsula challenges Columbia University East Asia conference Keio University global politics Post Election

This episode delves into the profound transformation underway in North Korea following the death of Kim Jong Il and the rise of Kim Jong Un. We explore North Korea's shifting political ideology, the challenges faced by its economy, and the evolving role of its military and Workers' Party. We discuss key developments such as the emergence of a merchant class, cultural infiltration from South Korea, and North Korea's alignment with Russia in the wake of the Hanoi summit. What does this mean for U.S.-North Korea relations, regional stability, and the potential for a renewed Cold War dynamic? Join us as we unpack these critical issues with insights from the world’s leading North Korea experts. North Korea politics Kim Jong Un leadership Korean Peninsula security Nuclear diplomacy U.S.-North Korea relations North Korean ideology Geopolitical alignments Authoritarian regimes Cold War dynamics Regional stability Juche ideology evolution Songun policy impacts Hanoi summit disillusionment North Korea-Russia relations Korean Peninsula nuclear threat North Korean economic transformation Cultural infiltration from South Korea Workers' Party of Korea reforms North Korea's merchant class rise Mutual defense treaty with Russia North Korea East Asian Studies East Asia East Asian Podcast North Korean history DPRK

This engrossing book, a brilliant blend of biography and criticism, tells the story of Feng Zikai (1898-1975), one of the most gifted and important artists to emerge from the politically tumultuous decades of the 1920s and 1930s. Barmé provides a closely woven parallel history, that of the life of writer-artist Feng, who was also an essayist and a translator, and that of China's turbulent twentieth century. He investigates Feng Zikai's aesthetic vision, its development, and how it relates to traditional and contemporary Chinese cultural values and debates.Although Feng was known for his so-called casual drawings, he was reluctant to classify his art. According to Barmé, much of his writing and painting was rooted in a philosophy of self-expression. Difficult to position in relation to existing Chinese political and social nomenclature, Feng remains, to a large extent, an enigma. He was sympathetic to the average person and the impoverished peasant, yet he was a romantic, and often identified with the increasingly politicized intelligentsia. A devout Buddhist, he was a close observer of nature and children, and while his art appeared gentle, it often carried a strong message.Much has been written about Feng Zikai, a figure who has become popular among elite and mass audiences in the Chinese world once more, but no other work has examined his place among May Fourth writers and intellectuals nor his position within the context of China's artistic, religious, and literary tradition. An Artistic Exile moves straight to the heart of debates surrounding modernization, religion, science, the essence of a tradition in an age of colonial modernity, and the ethos of political and social thought in twentieth-century China. East Asian Studies Podcast Chinese History Podcast Feng Zikai biography An Artistic Exile Barmé Chinese art in the 1920s and 1930s Chinese cultural values and art May Fourth Movement intellectuals Feng Zikai’s casual drawings Chinese artistic and literary tradition 20th-century Chinese artists Feng Zikai’s philosophy of self-expression Art and politics in modern China Buddhism and art in China Feng Zikai’s social and political commentary Chinese essayists and translators Colonial modernity in Chinese culture Traditional vs. contemporary Chinese art Artistic expression in tumultuous China Feng Zikai’s influence on Chinese art Modernization and tradition in China Art and social thought in 20th-century China Chinese art criticism and biography Feng Zikai’s impact on mass and elite audiences Art, religion, and modernization in China

Contours of Colonialism delves into the legacies of colonialism and the evolving dynamics of postcolonial worlds. Through critical discussions inspired by thinkers like Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak, Dipesh Chakrabarty, and Edward Said, we explore themes of representation, identity, and power in global history. From the silenced voices of the subaltern to the myths of Eurocentric modernity and the enduring impact of Orientalism, this podcast examines the ways colonial frameworks continue to shape societies and cultures. Join us as we decode the complexities of postcolonial thought and amplify stories from the margins in a divided yet interconnected world. Postcolonial theory podcast Decolonial studies Representation and identity Cultural critique Intellectual history Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak subaltern voice Dipesh Chakrabarty Provincializing Europe Edward Said Orientalism analysis Eurocentric modernity critique Subaltern representation in postcolonialism Translation in capitalist transitions Power and identity in global history Colonialism and cultural perception Western discourse critique podcast Decolonizing knowledge systems

Explore the strategies behind authoritarian rule in this analysis of Coalitions of the Weak, a groundbreaking book examining the leadership dynamics of the Chinese Communist Party. The lecture delves into how Mao Zedong strategically promoted weak, less-networked officials to maintain control, inadvertently creating a power vacuum that Xi Jinping later exploited to consolidate unprecedented authority. Drawing on thousands of historical documents and data, the discussion highlights the implications of these leadership tactics for China's policies and governance. From late-Mao politics to Xi Jinping’s rise, this episode examines the institutional and policy consequences of one-party autocracy and what it means for China’s future. For the first time since Mao, a Chinese leader may serve a life-time tenure. Xi Jinping may well replicate Mao's successful strategy to maintain power. If so, what are the institutional and policy implications for China? Victor C. Shih investigates how leaders of one-party autocracies seek to dominate the elite and achieve true dictatorship, governing without fear of internal challenge or resistance to major policy changes. Through an in-depth look of late-Mao politics informed by thousands of historical documents and data analysis, Coalitions of the Weak uncovers Mao's strategy of replacing seasoned, densely networked senior officials with either politically tainted or inexperienced officials. The book further documents how a decentralized version of this strategy led to two generations of weak leadership in the Chinese Communist Party, creating the conditions for Xi's rapid consolidation of power after 2012. Authoritarian leadership Chinese Communist Party Power consolidation Dictatorship strategies Political succession in China Mao Zedong leadership strategy Xi Jinping rise to power Coalitions of the Weak book analysis Weak leadership in autocracies CCP leadership dynamics Political Science Chinese Politics

Delve into the fascinating history of the Sino-Russian border, one of the longest and most geopolitically significant land boundaries in the world. Based on Soeren Urbansky’s groundbreaking research in Beyond the Steppe Frontier, this episode explores the evolution of this border from a loosely defined frontier in the seventeenth century to its transformation into a tightly controlled geopolitical boundary in the twentieth century. Through the perspectives of local communities—railroad workers, herdsmen, smugglers—and the transnational flows of people, goods, and ideas, this episode highlights the complexities of border-making. Learn how state policies of assimilation, reeducation, and propaganda suppressed traditional borderland cultures and reshaped this pivotal geographical periphery. Sino-Russian border history Borderland cultures Eurasian empires Border-making and geopolitics Transnational history Evolution of the Sino-Russian frontier Steppe frontier history Cultural suppression at borders Local perspectives on border policies Geopolitical significance of Sino-Russian relations Chinese History Russian History Borderland Frontier Sino Russian Borderlands East Asian Studies Podcast East Asian Studies

Explore the complexities of Tibet's integration into China's national development strategies in this deep dive into The Disempowered Development of Tibet in China. This episode examines how rapid economic growth, driven by central government subsidies, has created both improved living standards and intensified marginalization among Tibetans. Based on interdisciplinary research and extensive fieldwork, the discussion delves into the socio-economic stratification in urban areas, the impact of assimilationist policies, and the cultural and political disempowerment of Tibetan communities. Learn how economic integration, coupled with structural inequality, has led to tensions and protests, offering broader insights into the interplay of development, inequality, and conflict. Series: Studies in Modern Tibetan Culture, Lexington Books Weatherhead East Asian Institute, Columbia University Since the central government of China started major campaigns for western development in the mid-1990s, the economies of the Tibetan areas in Western China have grown rapidly and living standards have improved. However, grievances and protests have also intensified, as dramatically evidenced by the protests that spread across most Tibetan areas in spring 2008 and by the more recent wave of self-immolation protests that started in 2011. This book offers a detailed and careful exploration of this synergy between development and conflict in Tibet from the mid-1990s onwards, when rapid economic growth has occurred in tandem with a particularly assimilationist approach of integrating Tibet into China. Fischer argues that the intensified economic integration of Tibet into regional and national development strategies on these assimilationist terms, within a context of continued political disempowerment, and through the massive channeling of subsidies through Han Chinese dominated entities based outside the Tibetan areas, has accentuated various dynamics of subordination and marginalization faced by Tibetans of all social strata. Whether or not these dynamics are intended to be discriminatory, they effectively accentuate the discriminatory, assimilationist and disempowering characteristics of development, even while producing considerable improvements in the material consumption of local Tibetans. In particular, strong cultural, linguistic and political biases intensify ethnically-exclusionary dynamics among middle and upper strata of the Tibetan labor force, which is problematic considering the rapid shift of Tibetans out of agriculture and towards the highly subsidy-dependent sectors of the economy, especially in urban areas. The combination of these disempowering dynamics with the sheer speed of dislocating and disembedding social change provides important insights into recent tensions given that it has accentuated insecurity while restricting the ability of Tibetan communities to adapt in autonomous and self-determined ways. The study represents one of the only macro-level and systemic analyses of its kind in the scholarship on Tibet, based on accessible economic analysis and extensive interdisciplinary fieldwork. It also carries much interest for those interested in China and in the interactions between development, inequality, exclusion and conflict more generally. Tibetan development Economic inequality Cultural marginalization Assimilation policies Ethnic conflict Tibet-China economic integration Dependency theory in Tibet Structural inequality in urban Tibet Inter-ethnic tensions in Tibetan areas Disempowered development in Western China Modern Tibet Tibetan society China-Tibet Sino Tibet Modern Tibetan Studies Tibet Podcast

The Buddha’s nirvana marks the end of the life of a great spiritual figure and the beginning of Buddhism as a world religion. Surviving Nirvana is the first book in the English language to examine how this historic moment was represented and received in the visual culture of China. It is also a study about a pictorial image that has been in use for over 1,500 years. Mining a selection of well-documented and well-preserved examples from the sixth to twelfth centuries, Sonya Lee offers a reassessment of medieval Chinese Buddhism by focusing on practices of devotion and image-making that were inspired by the Buddha’s “complete extinction.” The nirvana image, comprised of a reclining Buddha and a mourning audience, was central to defining the local meanings of the nirvana moment in different times and places. The motif’s many guises, whether on a stone stele, inside a pagoda crypt, or as a painted mural in a cave temple, were the product of social interactions, religious institutions, and artistic practices prevalent in a given historical context. They were also cogent responses to the fundamental anxiety about the absence of the Buddha and the prospect of one’s salvation. By reinventing the nirvana image to address its own needs, each community of patrons, makers, and viewers sought to recast the Buddha’s “death” into an allegory of survival that was charged with local pride and contemporary relevance. Exhaustively researched, this study engages methods and debates from the fields of art history, religion, archaeology, architecture, and East Asian history that are relevant to both scholars and students alike. The many examples analyzed in the book offer well-defined local contexts to discuss broader historical and theoretical issues concerning representation, patronage, religion and politics, family values, and vision. Nirvana in Chinese Buddhism Buddha’s nirvana representation Visual culture in medieval China Buddhist art history Devotion and image-making in Buddhism Reclining Buddha imagery Chinese cave temples and murals Religious symbolism in Buddhism Absence of Buddha and salvation Art and religion in East Asia Sonya Lee Surviving Nirvana Nirvana image in medieval China Sixth to twelfth-century Buddhist art Mourning audience in nirvana art Pagoda crypt imagery Stone steles and Buddhist devotion Local contexts in Buddhist image-making Allegory of survival in Buddhist art Social interactions and religious patronage Family values in Chinese Buddhist art

Discover the untold stories of North Korean women reshaping their society amidst economic and social transformation. This podcast explores the rise of informal markets led predominantly by women, challenging traditional gender roles and family dynamics. Dive into how the collapse of the command economy, the influx of foreign media, and the regime’s tightening grip create a complex interplay between empowerment, societal change, and state control. With in-depth discussions and expert insights, this series sheds light on the gendered dimensions of North Korea's evolving economic and cultural landscape. North Korea Gender roles Informal economy Social change Patriarchy Economic empowerment Women in business Regime control North Korean women entrepreneurs 1990s North Korean famine impact Informal market rise in North Korea Gender dynamics in North Korea Family and cultural changes in North Korea Juche ideology vs. modern values North Korea social transition Women and economic leadership in Pyongyang Foreign media influence on North Korea Economic collapse and gender shifts in North Korea East Asian Studies Podcast East Asia North Korean History North Korea Sociology

Buddhist monasteries in medieval China employed a variety of practices to ensure their ascendancy and survival. Most successful was the exchange of material goods for salvation, as in the donation of land, which allowed monks to spread their teachings throughout China. By investigating a variety of socioeconomic spaces produced and perpetuated by Chinese monasteries, Michael J. Walsh reveals the "sacred economies" that shaped early Buddhism and its relationship with consumption and salvation.Centering his study on Tiantong, a Buddhist monastery that has thrived for close to seventeen centuries in southeast China, Walsh follows three main topics: the spaces monks produced, within and around which a community could pursue a meaningful existence; the social and economic avenues through which monasteries provided diverse sacred resources and secured the primacy of Buddhist teachings within an agrarian culture; and the nature of "transactive" participation within monastic spaces, which later became a fundamental component of a broader Chinese religiosity.Unpacking these sacred economies and repositioning them within the history of religion in China, Walsh encourages a different approach to the study of Chinese religion, emphasizing the critical link between religious exchange and the production of material culture. Medieval Chinese Buddhism Buddhist monasteries in China Sacred economies in religion Buddhism and material culture Religious exchange in Buddhism Agrarian culture and Buddhism Chinese monastic practices Buddhism and socioeconomic spaces Religion and consumption History of Buddhism in China Tiantong Buddhist monastery Michael J. Walsh sacred economies Land donations in Buddhism Salvation in medieval Chinese Buddhism Monastic spaces in medieval China Buddhist teachings in agrarian society Transactive participation in religion Chinese religiosity and Buddhism Socioeconomic impact of monasteries Material goods and salvation in Buddhism East Asian Religion Buddhism

In this episode, we delve into the fascinating world of Kangxi’s Red Tickets, a historical mystery that unveils the Qing dynasty's early engagement with globalization. Based on an enthralling book launch, we discuss the red tickets issued by Emperor Kangxi in 1716—imperial decrees sent to Europe in search of Jesuit envoys who had vanished. Explore how Jesuit missionaries became trusted envoys of the Qing court, their role in diplomacy, and the cultural collisions their work entailed. The episode highlights the author's journey from academic research to accessible storytelling, offering fresh perspectives on Sino-Western interactions and challenging long-standing myths about China’s historical engagement with the world. Kangxi red tickets Qing dynasty history Jesuit missionaries in China Sino-Western cultural exchange Chinese globalization Jesuit diplomacy in the Qing court Emperor Kangxi and Jesuit envoys Qing dynasty red ticket mystery Sino-European historical interactions Missionaries and Qing politics Kangxi’s 1716 red tickets to Europe Jesuit envoys and Kangxi imperial decrees Missionary role in early Qing globalization Challenges to the “closed-door policy” narrative Cultural collisions in Qing-era diplomacy Sun Litian 孙立天

In this episode, we dive into the intricate history of U.S. involvement in the South China Sea, one of the world's most contentious maritime territories. Drawing insights from Gregory B. Poling's acclaimed book On Dangerous Ground, we explore how the U.S. has navigated over a century of disputes in this vital waterway. From China’s militarization of islands to America’s commitment to freedom of the seas and its alliances in Asia, this episode unpacks the implications of "losing" the South China Sea and offers guidance for shaping future U.S. national security policy. Join us for a robust yet accessible look at the past, present, and future of one of the most strategically significant regions on Earth. South China Sea U.S. foreign policy Maritime disputes Geopolitics U.S.-China relations South China Sea disputes history Freedom of the seas policy U.S. alliances in Asia Gregory B. Poling book U.S. and Philippines maritime rights China's island militarization U.S. strategy in Southeast Asia On Dangerous Ground podcast

Inked is a social history of common soldiers of the Song Dynasty, most of whom would have been recognized by their tattooed bodies. Overlooked in the historical record, tattoos were an indelible aspect of the Song world, and their ubiquity was tied to the rise of the penal–military complex, a vast system for social control, warfare, and labor.Although much has been written about the institutional, strategic, and political aspects of the history of the Song and its military, this book is a first-of-its-kind investigation into the lives of the people who fought for the state. Elad Alyagon examines the army as a meeting place between marginalized social groups and elites. In the process, he shows the military to be a space where a new criminalized lower class was molded in a constant struggle between common soldiers and the agents of the Song state. For the millions of people caught in the orbit of this system―the tattooed soldiers, their families, and their neighbors―the Song period was no age of benevolence, but one of servitude, violence, and resistance. Inked is their story. East Asian Studies Podcast Chinese History Podcast Song Dynasty history Inked by Elad Alyagon Tattooed soldiers in the Song Dynasty Social history of Song Dynasty soldiers Penal-military complex in Song China Military life in the Song Dynasty Song Dynasty social control systems Criminalized lower class in ancient China Marginalized groups in Song Dynasty Warfare and labor in Song China Lives of common soldiers in Song history Tattoos in Chinese military history Song Dynasty penal system Violence and resistance in Song China Song Dynasty army and society Common soldiers and elites in Song history Social dynamics in Song China Military servitude in ancient China Tattoo culture in Chinese history Song Dynasty criminalization and labor Families of Song Dynasty soldiers Marginalization in ancient Chinese society Early Modern Chinese History

Explore the challenges and opportunities shaping China's economic future in this insightful podcast series. Delve into discussions on financial reforms, the internationalization of the renminbi, and the U.S.-China technological competition. Join top economists and policy experts as they analyze China's quest to transition into an innovation-driven economy, tackle demographic challenges, and navigate the complexities of global finance. Whether you're a student, professional, or policymaker, this podcast offers compelling perspectives on China's aspirations to become the next global economic superpower by 2049. Economics Global economy Financial systems Economic reform Innovation Demographic challenges Technological competition Climate change China economic growth U.S.-China relations Renminbi internationalization China 2049 economic goals SME financing challenges Market-oriented reforms in China Ageing population in China Chinese financial risks State-owned enterprise reform Global financial stability WTO and IMF governance

The Dutch East India Company was a hybrid organization combining the characteristics of both corporation and state that attempted to thrust itself aggressively into an Asian political order in which it possessed no obvious place and was transformed in the process. This study focuses on the company's clashes with Tokugawa Japan over diplomacy, violence, and sovereignty. In each encounter the Dutch were forced to retreat, compelled to abandon their claims to sovereign powers, and to refashion themselves again and again -- from subjects of a fictive king to loyal vassals of the shogun, from aggressive pirates to meek merchants, and from insistent defenders of colonial sovereignty to legal subjects of the Tokugawa state. Within the confines of these conflicts, the terms of the relationship between the company and the shogun first took shape and were subsequently set into what would become their permanent form. The first book to treat the Dutch East India Company in Japan as something more than just a commercial organization, The Company and the Shogun presents new perspective on one of the most important, long-lasting relationships to develop between an Asian state and a European overseas enterprise East Asian Studies Podcast Japanese History Podcast Dutch East India Company and Tokugawa Japan The Company and the Shogun analysis Dutch-Japanese relations in history Tokugawa Japan diplomacy and trade Dutch East India Company sovereignty Asian-European relations in early modern history VOC in Japan Tokugawa shogunate and foreign trade Dutch merchants in Japan Corporation and state hybrid organizations European overseas enterprises in Asia Colonial sovereignty in Tokugawa Japan Dutch piracy and trade in Asia Legal subjects of the Tokugawa state Commercial history of the Dutch East India Company Diplomacy in early modern Japan Shogun and Dutch East India Company conflicts VOC's transformation in Asia Sovereignty and diplomacy in Japanese history Long-term Dutch-Japanese relationships Asian political order and European enterprises Hybrid organizations in Asian history

In The Chinese Revolution on the Tibetan Frontier, Benno Weiner provides the first in-depth study of an ethnic minority region during the first decade of the People's Republic of China: the Amdo region in the Sino-Tibetan borderland. Employing previously inaccessible local archives as well as other rare primary sources, he demonstrates that the Communist Party's goal in 1950s Amdo was not just state- building, but also nation-building. Such an objective required the construction of narratives and policies capable of convincing Tibetans of their membership in a wider political community. As Weiner shows, however, early efforts to gradually and organically transform a vast multiethnic empire into a singular nation-state lost out to a revolutionary impatience, demanding more immediate paths to national integration and socialist transformation. This led in 1958 to communization, then to large-scale rebellion and its brutal pacification. Rather than joining volunatarily, Amdo was integrated through the widespread, often indiscriminate use of violence, a violence that lingers in the living memory of Amdo Tibetans and others. East Asian Studies Podcast Chinese History Podcast Tibetan History Podcast Sino-Tibetan relations Amdo region history Benno Weiner The Chinese Revolution on the Tibetan Frontier Tibetan frontier under Communist China Chinese nation-building in Tibet Ethnic minorities in the People’s Republic of China 1950s Amdo rebellion and pacification Socialist transformation in Tibetan regions Chinese Communist Party policies in Tibet Tibetan integration into China Multiethnic empire to nation-state in China Violence in Sino-Tibetan history Communist state-building in Tibet Tibetan memory of Chinese rebellion Amdo’s role in the Chinese Revolution Nation-building challenges in China Sino-Tibetan borderlands history Tibetan resistance under Communist rule Revolutionary impatience and Tibetan unrest Tibet-China relations in the 1950s Historical accounts of Amdo Tibetans Socialist transformation in borderland regions Modern Tibetan Studies Tibetan Studies Podcast

How British authorities and Indian intellectuals developed ideas about deviant female sexuality to control and organize modern society in IndiaDuring the colonial period in India, European scholars, British officials, and elite Indian intellectuals—philologists, administrators, doctors, ethnologists, sociologists, and social critics—deployed ideas about sexuality to understand modern Indian society. In Indian Sex Life, Durba Mitra shows how deviant female sexuality, particularly the concept of the prostitute, became foundational to this knowledge project and became the primary way to think and write about Indian society.Bringing together vast archival materials from diverse disciplines, Mitra reveals that deviant female sexuality was critical to debates about social progress and exclusion, caste domination, marriage, widowhood and inheritance, women's performance, the trafficking of girls, abortion and infanticide, industrial and domestic labor, indentured servitude, and ideologies about the dangers of Muslim sexuality. British authorities and Indian intellectuals used the concept of the prostitute to argue for the dramatic reorganization of modern Indian society around Hindu monogamy. Mitra demonstrates how the intellectual history of modern social thought is based in a dangerous civilizational logic built on the control and erasure of women's sexuality. This logic continues to hold sway in present-day South Asia and the postcolonial world.Reframing the prostitute as a concept, Indian Sex Life overturns long-established notions of how to write the history of modern social thought in colonial India, and opens up new approaches for the global history of sexuality. South Asian Studies Podcast Indian History Podcast Indian Anthropology Podcast Indian Sex Life by Durba Mitra Deviant female sexuality in colonial India Prostitution in Indian history Colonial control of Indian society British authorities and Indian intellectuals Caste and sexuality in India Women’s sexuality in colonial India Gender and social thought in India Hindu monogamy and colonial debates Indian social reform and sexuality Widowhood and inheritance in India Women’s labor and indentured servitude Ideologies about Muslim sexuality in India Sexuality and caste domination Trafficking and gender in Indian history History of prostitution in South Asia Modern Indian social thought Global history of sexuality Colonial discourse on Indian women Archival research on Indian social reform Women and sexuality in postcolonial India

Since the nineteenth century, a succession of states has classified the inhabitants of what are now the borderlands of Northeast India and Bangladesh as Muslim "frontier peasants," "savage mountaineers," and Christian "ethnic minorities," suspecting them to be disloyal subjects, spies, and traitors. In Jungle Passports Malini Sur follows the struggles of these people to secure shifting land, gain access to rice harvests, and smuggle the cattle and garments upon which their livelihoods depend against a background of violence, scarcity, and India's construction of one of the world's longest and most highly militarized border fences.Jungle Passports recasts established notions of citizenship and mobility along violent borders. Sur shows how the division of sovereignties and distinct regimes of mobility and citizenship push undocumented people to undertake perilous journeys across previously unrecognized borders every day. Paying close attention to the forces that shape the life-worlds of deportees, refugees, farmers, smugglers, migrants, bureaucrats, lawyers, clergy, and border troops, she reveals how reciprocity and kinship and the enforcement of state violence, illegality, and border infrastructures shape the margins of life and death. Combining years of ethnographic and archival fieldwork, her thoughtful and evocative book is a poignant testament to the force of life in our era of closed borders, insularity, and "illegal migration." South Asian Studies Podcast Indian History Podcast Northeast India borderlands Bangladesh-India border studies Jungle Passports by Malini Sur Citizenship and mobility in South Asia Muslim frontier peasants in India Savage mountaineers and ethnic minorities Militarized borders in South Asia Smuggling in Indian borderlands Refugees and migrants in South Asia Border fences and sovereignty Illegal migration and state violence Borderland ethnography in India Life and death at violent borders Northeast India and Bangladesh relations Deportation and migration studies Kinship and reciprocity in border regions Indian borderlands and livelihoods Refugees and undocumented migration Citizenship regimes in South Asia Border infrastructures and migration Cross-border trade and smuggling Ethnic minorities in Indian border regions

Winner, 2023 Bernard S. Cohn Prize, Association for Asian StudiesWinner, 2021 Joseph W. Elder Prize in the Indian Social SciencesWinner, 2021 Ruth Benedict Prize, Association for Queer AnthropologyHonorable Mention, 2023 Anne Bolin & Gil Herdt Book Prize, Human Sexuality & Anthropology Interest GroupHijras, one of India’s third gendered or trans populations, have been an enduring presence in the South Asian imagination―in myth, in ritual, and in everyday life, often associated in stigmatized forms with begging and sex work. In more recent years hijras have seen a degree of political emergence as a moral presence in Indian electoral politics, and with heightened vulnerability within global health terms as a high-risk population caught within the AIDS epidemic.Hijras, Lovers, Brothers recounts two years living with a group of hijras in rural India. In this riveting ethnography, Vaibhav Saria reveals not just a group of stigmatized or marginalized others but a way of life composed of laughter, struggles, and desires that trouble how we read queerness, kinship, and the psyche.Against easy framings of hijras that render them marginalized, Saria shows how hijras makes the normative Indian family possible. The book also shows that particular practices of hijras, such as refusing to use condoms or comply with retroviral regimes, reflect not ignorance, irresponsibility, or illiteracy but rather a specific idiom of erotic asceticism arising in both Hindu and Islamic traditions. This idiom suffuses the densely intertwined registers of erotics, economics, and kinship that inform the everyday lives of hijras and offer a repertoire of self-fashioning beyond the secular horizons of public health or queer theory.Engrossingly written and full of keen insights, the book moves from the small pleasures of the everyday―laughter, flirting, teasing―to impossible longings, kinship, and economies of property and substance in order to give a fuller account of trans lives and of Indian society today. South Asian Studies Podcast Indian History Podcast Indian Anthropology Podcast Hijras in Indian society Hijras, Lovers, Brothers by Vaibhav Saria Third gender in South Asia Transgender studies in India Queer anthropology in India Hijras and Indian kinship Indian LGBTQ+ ethnography Transgender politics in India Hijras and the AIDS epidemic Erotic asceticism in Indian traditions Hindu and Islamic traditions of gender Queerness and kinship in India Marginalized communities in South Asia Joseph W. Elder Prize winner Ruth Benedict Prize winner Queer anthropology podcast Indian trans lives and kinship Hijras in rural India ethnography Human sexuality and anthropology Public health and LGBTQ+ in India Hijras and Indian electoral politics