Speaker: Shawn Shieh, Ph.D. (Social Innovations Advisory, Ltd.)

Date: Friday, 11 November, 10:00-11:30 AM (CET)

Location: Online via Zoom

Registration required: https://hu-berlin.zoom.us/meeting/register/u5wuduqppz0qHNRvwr09cScRoQSaBFBoWk1j

Abstract

Chinese companies and investors have faced increasing pushback from communities and civil society organisations (CSOs) against their businesses in Belt and Road partner countries. In his talk, Shieh will discuss the diverse civil society responses at the international and local levels with examples drawn from the global South. He also discusses the recent statements and initiatives coming from Chinese policymakers, industry groups, and companies who are slowly beginning to pay attention to the grievances of local communities and CSOs, delving into the opportunities and risks for civil society when seeking to hold these stakeholders accountable.

Shawn Shieh, Ph.D., has 15 years of experience working to strengthen civil society and social movements in China and the Asia-Pacific. In 2018, he founded Social Innovations Advisory, Ltd., an international consultancy dedicated to building a resilient civil society in the global South. SIA partners with other organizations to design strategies and tools to sustain civil society and strengthen its capacity to hold government and corporate actors accountable. Shawn is also a Contributor to Rights CoLab (New York), a Research Associate at the Overseas Development Institute (London), and a Research Fellow at the Chinese University of Hong Kong. He was previously Deputy Director of China Labour Bulletin in Hong Kong, and founder of the English-language operations for China Development Brief in Beijing.