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Jeffrey Wasserstrom Professor of History, University of California Irvine David and Goliath: Prospects for Hong Kong as China Cracks Down January 13, 2021 1:00-2:00 PM ABOUT THE TOPIC
At dawn on January 6th, Hong Kong police arrested dozens of pro-democracy politicians, accusing them of subversion under a sweeping national security law China imposed last July. Given the range and profile of those arrested, The Wall Street Journal described the sweep as a “dramatic escalation” in China’s efforts to crush the opposition. For those convicted, harsh sentences include life in prison. Dr. Jeffrey Wasserstrom poses three sets of questions: how does it compare to other anti-authoritarian struggles, how does Hong Kong’s resistance fit into China’s larger strategy, and what hope is there for the movement?
ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Specializing in modern Chinese history at UC Irvine, Professor Jeffrey Wasserstrom’s research interests began with the role of student protest and grew to include the social history of China and comparative social history. A founder of the China Channel at the Los Angeles Review of Books, Wasserstrom also writes about China for The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, and The Atlantic, among others. His most recent book is Vigil: Hong Kong on the Brink (February 2020). He tweets @jwassers.
You can purchase a copy of his book here.