CityU and Korea University co-organised a two-week virtual program, themed “Contentious Politics and its Repercussions in Asia”, as the first part of the Asia Pacific Workshop of the American Political Science Association (APSA)’s 2020 Asia Pacific Program from 11 to 22 January 2021.
The Workshop aims to advance high-quality scholarship from the region and promote scholarly exchange and collaboration. It brings 18 fellows from countries across Southeast Asia, East Asia, and the United States together for an intensive program of networking, mentoring, and research discussion, coordinated and facilitated by four co-leaders, including Dr Edmund CHENG of CityU’s Department of Public Policy.
The fellow-exclusive winter virtual program encompassed an array of topical lectures, research panels, and professional development seminars. Fellows and co-leaders were convened twice per week to discuss four thematic issues developed by the four co-leaders, which are research guide, protest dynamics in authoritarian/hybrid settings, technology and protests, and democratic backsliding. Fellows had to attend and actively participate in all the four sessions, each guided by three required readings, some optional readings, and a short video recorded by the co-leaders.
In addition to leading the presentations and discussions, the co-leaders have also read and provided feedback to the drafts of the fellows’ papers, which were submitted prior to the start of the program. At the end of the virtual program, fellows were invited to provide written feedback to their peers’ work.
Fellows and co-leaders are encouraged to stay engaged with the thematic issues and connected with one another. Discussion groups may continue to meet on their own.
The second part of the APSA 2020 Asia Pacific Program is expected to be held in spring/summer 2021. It may be a face-to-face meeting in Seoul, Korea or another virtual program, subjects to the development of the pandemic.
Cover photo: The APSA 2020 Asia Pacific Program brings 18 fellows together to discuss thematic issues on contentious politics in Asia. (Photo by CHUTTERSNAP on Unsplash)
