Kate McDonald on Asian Mobility History as Labor History
New Books in East Asian Studies
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Rethinking Transportation Narratives
This chapter critiques conventional narratives surrounding transportation that prioritize productivity and mechanization, largely ignoring the perspectives of non-Western contexts. It highlights the historical relevance of human-powered transport, especially in Japan, and the labor struggles of rickshaw pullers during modernization. By emphasizing social innovation alongside technological change, the chapter advocates for a broader understanding of innovation that includes worker rights and conditions.
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