Next Lecture: Prof. Dr. Zhao Dingxin 赵鼎新, University of Chicago / Zhejiang University

The digital lecture series “Chinese Perspectives: China and the World through the Eyes of Scholars” presents – in its third annual edition – leading Chinese scientists and their positions on current issues and developments in China and the world. Through lectures and the possibility for direct exchange and discussion, the series aim is to enter into dialogue and make perspectives of Chinese scholars accessible for European public debate.

The series is jointly organized by Confucius Institute at Freie Universität Berlin and Confucius Institute Metropolis Ruhr, in cooperation with Confucius Institute at Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Confucius Institute at Milan State University and Confucius Institute at University of Rome La Sapienza.

The digital lectures are hosted via Zoom phone and video conference. Registration for the events is required.

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Friday, 22 March 2024, 12.00 h (CET)

Prof. Dr. Zhao Dingxin 赵鼎新, University of Chicago / Zhejiang University

Patterns of development of collective actions in post-Mao China

In this talk, Zhao Dingxin argues that social movements and collective actions in post-Mao China have developed in four overlapping stages. The first stage, between 1976 and 1989, is dominated by large-scale protests targeting the central government. The second stage, between 1992 and 2002, is featured by small-to-medium-sized and localized protests with primarily economic goals. The third stage, between 2002 and 2012, saw the emergence of proactive and rights-oriented protests. The last stage of the protests from 2012 onward seems to have developed several new characteristics: middle-class right consciousness has leveled off; politicalized movement has shrunken; online protest has lost its momentum. And above all, the protesters have acted more like „subjectizens“ (a term coined to denote an attitude assuming characteristics of both traditional subjects and modern citizens). Zhao Dingxin provides an interpretation to these patterns and speculates on the future trends of collective actions in China.

Zhao Dingxin is director of the Center for Advanced Studies in Humanities and Social Sciences, and chair of the Department of Sociology, Zhejiang University. He is also Max Palevsky Professor Emeritus of Sociology at the University of Chicago. His research covers historical sociology, political sociology, social movements, social change and economic development. His interests extend to sociological theory and methodology. Zhao has publications in journals such as American Journal of Sociology, American Sociological Review, American Behavioral Scientist, Social Forces, Mobilization, and Sociology. He is the author of awards-winning books The Power of Tiananmen (2001) and The Confucian-Legalist State (2015) in English, as well as the following books in Chinese:  Social and Political Movement (2006), Limit of Democracy (2012), State and War: A Comparative Analysis of the Chinese and European Historical Development (2015), Politics of Legitimacy (2018), What is Sociology (2021). His current research project is on the epistemological and ontological aspects of social science methodologies.

Lecture in English
Registration for the event:

https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZEsf-CrrzMiE9UNu6bVaMWEZ-8M0NU0Sx5K