Talk and Book Launch: Green Politics in China
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Clean Air with Chinese Characteristics: Grassroots Environmentalism and Political ReformHow are Chinese people responding to China’s environmental crisis? What do the actions of environmental groups tell us about the prospect for political reform in China?Based on interviews with members of grassroots organisations, media, and the government, this talk will explore how environmental problems are transforming Chinese society. The presentation draws from their new book, Green Politics in China, Environmental Governance and State-Society Relations (Pluto Press, 2013), which covers examples rarely captured in Western media, including low carbon conspiracy theories, the campaign to save Kekexili in Tibet from commercial branding, and the ‘patriotic’ struggle to monitor air quality. Zhang and Barr detail the surprising influence of Chinese NGOs and their novel strategies to push the boundaries of political participation within a one party system. |
Date: Thursday, 26th September
Book Launch: 5.30 to 6.30 pm
Arthur Probsthain Bookshop, 41 Great Russell Street
Talk: 7 to 8.30 pm
Room 116 Main Building, SOAS (School of Oriental & African Studies), Univeristy of London, Russell Square
Entry to Talk: Free for Meridian Society and SACU members and SOAS students
£5 donation from others
Booking: To reserve your place at the talk please email themeridiansociety@gmail.com
stating whether you are a member or student
Dr Joy Zhang
Joy Zhang is Lecturer in Sociology at the University of Kent. She writes a popular weekly column for the People’s Daily overseas edition. She is the author of The Cosmopolitanization of Science: Stem Cell Governance in China(Palgrave, 2012).
Dr Michael Barr
Michael Barr is Lecturer in International Politics at Newcastle University. His most recent work on China has been funded by the UK Foreign Office. His book Who’s Afraid of China? The Challenge of Chinese Soft Power (Zed, 2011) has been translated into Chinese and Turkish.
Joy Zhang 