Event

China is witnessing the largest-scale public protests targeting the party-state and its policies since the Tiananmen movement of 1989 and related demonstrations around the country. Primarily focused on socially disruptive and economically costly lockdowns and other restrictions imposed under a nationwide “zero COVID” policy, and precipitated by a fatal fire in an Urumqi apartment building where COVID-related restrictions thwarted rescue efforts, some protesters across China soon began to voice more fundamental criticisms of the leadership and the regime. The authorities have responded with arrests and a heavy police presence, and the threat of a more severe crackdown. Less than a week in, former Chinese top leader Jiang Zemin died, which brought analogies to the impact of the passing of another former Chinese leader, Hu Yaobang, whose death helped trigger the 1989 protests.

The Center for the Study of Contemporary China, in co-sponsorship with Perry World House will convene a forum to discuss these events. CSCC scholars will make brief opening remarks, followed by an open discussion.

Panelists include:

Jacques deLisle, Stephen A. Cozen Professor of Law and Professor of Political Science;

Amy Gadsden, Executive Director of Penn China Initiatives;

Avery Goldstein, David M. Knott Professor of Global Politics and International Relations ;

Neysun Mahboubi, CSCC Research scholar;

Jing Wang, Senior Research Manager, CARGC;

Guobin Yang, Grace Lee Boggs Professor of Communication and Sociology;

Zoe Mengyang Zhao, Ph.D. Candidate, Department of Sociology;

Hongshen Zhu, CSCC Postdoctoral fellow

Open to all, informal pizza lunch provided.

RSVP requested, but not required: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-zero-covid-protests-in-china-tickets-479492443807