New Books in East Asian Studies

An in-depth examination of the regulatory, entrepreneurial, and organizational factors contributing to the expansion and transformation of China’s supplemental education industry.Like many parents in the United States, parents in China, increasingly concerned with their children’s academic performance, are turning to for-profit tutoring businesses to help their children get ahead in school. China’s supplemental education industry is now the world’s largest and most vibrant for-profit education market, and we can see its influence on the US higher education system: more than 70% of Chinese students studying in American universities have taken test preparation classes for overseas standardized tests. The Fruits of Opportunism: Noncompliance and the Evolution of China's Supplemental Education Industry (U Chicago Press, 2022) offers a much-needed thorough investigation into this industry. This book examines how opportunistic organizations thrived in an ambiguous policy environment and how they catalyzed organizational and institutional changes in this industry.A former insider in China’s Education Industry, sociologist Le Lin shows how and why this industry evolved to become a for-profit one dominated by private, formal, nationally operating, and globally financed corporations, despite restrictions the Chinese state placed on the industry. Looking closely at the opportunistic organizations that were founded by marginal entrepreneurs and quickly came to dominate the market, Lin finds that as their non-compliant practices spread across the industry, these opportunistic organizations pushed privatization and marketization from below. The case of China’s Education Industry laid out in The Fruits of Opportunism illustrates that while opportunism leaves destruction in its wake, it can also drive the formation and evolution of a market.Professor Le Lin’s research centers on organizations, political economy, economic sociology and social stratification, especially where these areas intersect with education and healthcare in China, the U.S. and in a transnational context. His most recent book The Fruits of Opportunism: Noncompliance and the Evolution of China’s Supplemental Education Industry, was published by the University of Chicago Press won the Honorable Mention of the Asia/Transnational Book Award, American Sociological Association (ASA) in 2023. His articles and research have also appeared in journals such as Socio-Economic Review, Higher Education and Global Perspectives, and has won awards from the American Sociological Association and the Society for the Advancement of Socio-Economics.Gene-George Earle is currently a PhD candidate in Anthropology at East China Normal University in Shanghai. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSupport our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/east-asian-studies

In this episode Salman Sayyid talks to Haiyun Ma about Muslimness in China. This is the second episode in this series which addresses this topic: in a previous episode we spoke to Darren Byler about Uyghur Muslims in East Turkestan. In this episode, our focus is slightly different, and encompasses many Muslim groups in China. Haiyun Ma, assistant professor at Frostburg State University, tells us about his career and his interests in Islam and Muslims in Chinese history. This episode is one of our ‘Forgotten Ummah’ episodes, which tell the story of Muslimness in places that are not normatively or traditionally thought of as Muslim. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSupport our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/east-asian-studies

"In this tango palace everything was swaying rhythmically to and fro, bodies of men and women, beams of colored light, brilliant wine glasses, red and green liquids, slender fingers, pomegranate-colored lips, and feverish eyes. Tables and chairs, together with the crowd of people, cast their reflections on the center of the shiny floor. Everyone was under a powerful magical spell and lost in this enchanted palace." Enigmatic, mesmerizing, and frenetic, Urban Scenes (Cambria, 2023) takes readers into the dazzling world of Shanghai in the 1920s. This collection of short fiction by Liu Na’ou (1905–1940) — a Taiwanese-born modernist writer — contains stories that take place in cinemas, art studios, and nightclubs. Touching on issues of modernity, social change, and shifting ideas of love, romance, and beauty, these tantalizing stories are accompanied by a thoughtful Introduction and helpful notes by the translators, Yaohua Shi and Judith Amory. This collection is sure to appeal to those interested in modernist literature and Sinophone fiction, as well as anyone who is looking for stories that feature perplexing narrators to analyze with their students. Interested readers should also check out the other titles in the Cambria Sinophone Translation Series.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSupport our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/east-asian-studies

In this engaging discussion, Darren Blyer, a sociocultural anthropologist, delves into his book on Uyghur Muslims and the interplay of Islamophobia and capitalism in East Turkestan. He highlights the historical struggles of Uyghurs, emphasizing the severe human rights violations they face. The conversation explores state narratives labeling Uyghurs as terrorists while drawing parallels to global patterns of marginalization. Blyer also discusses the importance of solidarity and friendship within the Uyghur community as a form of resistance against ongoing violence.

Dr. Carmen C. M. Tsui, an architect and urban historian from Lingnan University, discusses her book on the historical significance of Hong Kong's public markets from 1842 to 1981. She examines how these everyday structures mirror the city’s evolving socio-political landscape. The conversation dives into the impact of government policies on market vendors, the gender dynamics that favored male traders, and the architectural shifts prompted by health crises. Tsui reveals how markets serve as a microcosm of urban history and community life.

Dr. Qingfei Yin, an Assistant Professor of International History at LSE, delves into the intricate history of Sino-Vietnamese relations and the significance of borderlands. She discusses her upcoming book, which unveils how Cold War dynamics influenced state-building and regional interactions. The conversation highlights grassroots perspectives, the complexities of collaboration and competition, and the evolving nature of borders in East Asia. Dr. Yin also critiques traditional narratives, emphasizing the importance of peripheral nations in global historical contexts.

Matthew H. Sommer, a historian specializing in late imperial China, discusses his intriguing book on transgender histories. He delves into six court cases that illuminate complex gender identities and societal perceptions in Qing China. Sommer highlights how individuals navigated gender roles against legal frameworks, showcasing the interplay of culture and identity. He also touches on themes of sorcery, fox spirit mediums, and the narrative of gender nonconformity, ultimately revealing rich insights into the historical context of LGBTQ+ experiences in East Asia.

In this discussion, Kate McDonald, an Associate Professor of History at UC Santa Barbara, explores Asian mobility from a labor perspective. She examines the history of human-powered transport, particularly rickshaws in Japan, and critiques the narratives of mechanization that overlook worker experiences. McDonald shares insights from her research projects, revealing how transportation has shaped labor movements and economic structures. Additionally, she reflects on the complex interplay of mobility, identity, and historical narratives in the context of colonialism.

Dr. Kristie Flannery, an expert on Spanish colonial rule in the Philippines, discusses her groundbreaking work on piracy's role in shaping the Spanish Pacific World. She reveals how colonial officials and missionaries allied with Indigenous Filipinos and Chinese migrants to combat piracy. The conversation delves into the unexpected influence of Catholic priests in legitimizing imperial power. Flannery also explores the tumultuous Sino-Spanish relations, highlighting the fluctuating fates of Chinese immigrants amid piracy and colonial tensions.

In this engaging discussion, Christina Yi delves into her work on cultural production and coloniality in Japan's East Asian Empire. She unpacks the paradox of 'passing' versus 'posing,' revealing how these concepts highlight the complexities of identity for marginalized groups like Zainichi Koreans. Yi explores the role of art, theater, and film in shaping narratives of assimilation while resisting imperial propaganda. The conversation also touches on the tensions between inclusion and oppression, prompting listeners to reconsider the nuanced dynamics of culture and identity under colonial rule.