Lecture
Professor Jeffrey Wasserstrom on China, Protest and Asia’s Struggle against Autocracy
- Date
- Thursday 23 October 2025
- Time
- Address
-
Wijnhaven
Turfmarkt 99
2511 DP The Hague - Room
- 3.60
China is changing the world—and the world is responding. In just a few decades, China has gone from isolated state to global powerhouse, reshaping politics, culture, and the fight for democracy across Asia. From Hong Kong’s streets to youth movements in Thailand and Myanmar, the ripple effects are impossible to ignore.
Join us for an eye-opening talk with Jeffrey N. Wasserstrom, Chancellor’s Professor of History at University of California, Irvine and one of the most insightful voices on modern China. Author of China in the 21st Century: What Everyone Needs to Know and the brand-new Milk Tea Alliance, Wasserstrom will explore:
China’s rapid rise and global impact
How young activists across Asia are building solidarity against authoritarianism
Stories of resistance, creativity, and cross-border connection
In this lecture Wasserstrom will discuss both the big picture of China’s development and the more intimate stories of regional activism (for his last book, Wasserstrom interviewed dozens of dissidents). It’s a chance to dive deep into the forces shaping our world right now. The talk will be followed by a Q&A and a networking reception.
About the speaker
Jeffrey Wasserstrom is Distinguished Professor of History at UC Irvine, where he specializes in modern Chinese and global history. He is particularly interested in themes such as youth movements, cities, gender, and dystopian fiction, and he has written, co-written, edited, or co-edited a dozen books. His recent works include Vigil: Hong Kong on the Brink (2020) and The Milk Tea Alliance: Inside Asia’s Struggle Against Autocracy and Beijing (2025). In addition to his academic writing, he regularly contributes essays and commentary to outlets such as the New York Times and The Atlantic.
