From Hong Kong to Bangkok and Back Again

Join us for a discussion with Jeffrey Wasserstrom, an expert on modern China and author of Vigil: Hong Kong on the Brink (2020), as he previews the themes and stories from his forthcoming book The Milk Tea Alliance: Inside Asia’s Struggle Against Autocracy and Beijing. This book, set to be published by Columbia Global Reports in the spring, chronicles the lives, friendships, and activism of East and Southeast Asian youth across a decade, from 2014 to 2024. In this talk, Wasserstrom will delve into the alliances and struggles of these activists, offering insight into the regional movements fighting against autocracy and Beijing’s growing influence.

This event, co-hosted by the South Asia Council, the Council of East Asian Studies, and the Brady-Johnson Program on Grand Strategy, will be moderated by Arne Westad. The conversation will also touch on Wasserstrom’s future work exploring George Orwell’s time in Burma and the influence of his writing in Asia, promising a rich exploration of historical and contemporary Asian activism and literature.

This event is open to the Yale community. Please register in advance.