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chenchenzhang.net
Chenchen Zhang 🤦🏻‍♀️
@chenchenzhang.net
8.6K followers 350 following 1.7K posts
migrant & researcher interested in politics and other things. based @durham.ac.uk
currently: digital narratives, postcolonial nationalism, the global right, China stuff. neurodiversity-affirming parenting. she/her. 不必等待炬火.

https://chenchenzhang.net
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chenchenzhang.net
Chenchen Zhang 🤦🏻‍♀️ @chenchenzhang.net · Nov 24
🚨new open-access article!🚨
what do drastically different representations of the Paris Olympic opening ceremony on Chinese social media tell us about competing narratives of civilization & transversal alignment in digital reactionary politics?
academic.oup.com/isagsq/artic...
Abstract: Scholarship on “non-Western” civilizational discourse in international relations remains largely limited to the versions crafted or endorsed by the state. This paper takes the representation of the Paris Olympics opening ceremony on Chinese social media as an entry point to exploring vernacular and competing narratives of civilization in global cultural politics. Drawing on data from multiple platforms, I scrutinize visions of civilizational progress, decay, and betrayal, interlaced with contested imaginaries of “China”, “France”, and “the West”, in celebratory and demonizing discourses on the spectacle. First, I argue that ideas of “civilizational standards” have always been co-produced, appropriated, and negotiated by actors from the peripheries, rather than monopolized by the centre. A nuanced and situational reading of the celebratory discourse shows how users employ civilizational and universalist vocabularies to contest locally hegemonic structures, which may simultaneously reproduce and challenge homonationalist logics. Secondly, the paper contributes to the emerging literature on the co-opting of the anticolonial language in reactionary politics, showing that in this case, the accusation of coloniality is turned inwards to target the internal other, whose identification with progressive values is recast as colonial subservience and betrayal. Finally, I show that the trope of “Western civilizational decay” and certain constructions of difference/affinities are instrumental to queerphobic nationalist narratives. However, civilizational signifiers such as “West” and “East” function in digital reactionary discourse less as a tool for narrating cultural distinctiveness than as flexible transnational codes, allowing for transversal alignment to emerge across conventional geopolitical and ideological boundaries.
Reposted by Chenchen Zhang 🤦🏻‍♀️
tingguowrites.bsky.social
This looks wildly similar to my book. 1) who at Yale invited him 2) will anyone challenge him at the talk?

macmillan.yale.edu/eastasia/eve...
The Burdens of Love in Public Discourse in China
Thu, Jan 29 2026, 4:30 - 6pm |
macmillan.yale.edu
January 21, 2026 at 4:09 PM
chenchenzhang.net
he thinks it's a mafia movie?
atrupar.com Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 5h
Trump: "So we want a piece of ice for world protection. And they won't give it. They have a choice. You can say yes and we will be very appreciative, or you can say no and we will remember."
January 21, 2026 at 2:31 PM
chenchenzhang.net
von der Leyen's 百年未有之大变局
January 21, 2026 at 11:36 AM
chenchenzhang.net
"We knew the story of the intl rules-based order was partially false. That the strongest would exempt themselves when convenient. That trade rules were enforced asymmetrically. And we knew that international law applied with varying rigour depending on the identity of the accused or the victim."
January 21, 2026 at 10:37 AM
chenchenzhang.net
Song Luzheng, a fellow of Fudan's "China Institute" who lives in France, lays out 4 reasons why he thinks if far right parties in Europe take power it will be good for China. Tl;DR: he agrees with their values, and thinks they are pragmatic.
alt text for translation
m.guancha.cn/SongLuZheng/...
"Therefore, if 'far-right' parties—which are increasingly gaining support from European public opinion—can come to power in European countries, particularly in France and Germany, China-Europe relations may usher in a new historical opportunity. Such a Europe would likely neither view China as a threat nor become entrenched in ideological confrontation. Furthermore, it would not obstruct China's reunification, but rather pursue win-win cooperation. Perhaps only then will China and Europe return to a comprehensive strategic partnership."
January 20, 2026 at 9:11 PM
Reposted by Chenchen Zhang 🤦🏻‍♀️
chinalawtranslate.bsky.social
A surreal moment from @chinatalk.skystack.xyz shared in the other place by @jordanschneider.bsky.social , who audaciously rejected the idea that China curing cancer would be a "nightmare scenario".
January 20, 2026 at 10:04 AM
chenchenzhang.net
the thread that makes bluesky worthwhile
sharonk.bsky.social Sharon @sharonk.bsky.social · 2d
@vienna_official
today we welcome his imperial highness archduke franz ferdinand to sarajevo. unity, stability, progress.

@pan_slav_posting
wild that austria thinks this is a good idea but ok
aelkus.bsky.social ae @aelkus.bsky.social · 2d
as a black comedy, someone should write a version of WWI leadup that has social media. Don't bother about incongruity of fitting 21st century social media tech into early 1900s. Just imagine what it would have been like
January 19, 2026 at 9:44 PM
Reposted by Chenchen Zhang 🤦🏻‍♀️
sharonk.bsky.social
@may_fourth_movement
we are done being polite.

@student_beijing
boycotts today. lectures canceled. history class in the streets.

@random_professor
this is dangerous radicalism.

@student_beijing
so is humiliation.
January 19, 2026 at 8:09 PM
Reposted by Chenchen Zhang 🤦🏻‍♀️
sharonk.bsky.social
@vienna_official
today we welcome his imperial highness archduke franz ferdinand to sarajevo. unity, stability, progress.

@pan_slav_posting
wild that austria thinks this is a good idea but ok
aelkus.bsky.social ae @aelkus.bsky.social · 2d
as a black comedy, someone should write a version of WWI leadup that has social media. Don't bother about incongruity of fitting 21st century social media tech into early 1900s. Just imagine what it would have been like
January 19, 2026 at 7:04 PM
chenchenzhang.net
so... if "the west" is no longer a thing, how about "western modernity", "western hegemony", and the "dewesternization" Mignolo has been advocating
January 19, 2026 at 6:50 PM
chenchenzhang.net
not so much of a u-turn when you recall that part of the intellectual project of the European far right has always been anti-Americanism and European ethno-civilizationism
nvondarza.bsky.social Nicolai von Ondarza @nvondarza.bsky.social · 2d
Here is only at first paradoxical reaction I believe we will see more of - AfD member of the Bundestag Kay Gottschalk argues the US tariffs over Greendland call for more European sovereignty, a European military alliance, a German nuke and ends his video with the slogan "Long live Europe".
January 19, 2026 at 2:17 PM
chenchenzhang.net
can the world really do nothing about the man babies with power?
sharonk.bsky.social Sharon @sharonk.bsky.social · 2d
mad king moment

from the PBS Newshour correspondent
NEW: @potus letter to @jonasgahrstore links @NobelPrize to Greenland, reiterates threats, and is forwarded by the NSC staff to multiple European ambassadors in Washington. I obtained the text from multiple officials: Dear Ambassador: President Trump has asked that the following message, shared with Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre, be forwarded to your [named head of government/state] “Dear Jonas: Considering your Country decided not to give me the Nobel Peace Prize for having stopped 8 Wars PLUS, I no longer feel an obligation to think purely of Peace, although it will always be predominant, but can now think about what is good and proper for the United States of America. Denmark cannot protect that land from Russia or China, and why do they have a “right of ownership” anyway? There are no written documents, it’s only that a boat landed there hundreds of years ago, but we had boats landing there, also. I have done more for NATO than any other person since its founding, and now, NATO should do something for the United States. The World is not secure unless we have Complete and Total Control of Greenland. Thank you! President DJT”
January 19, 2026 at 9:57 AM
Reposted by Chenchen Zhang 🤦🏻‍♀️
sharonk.bsky.social
mad king moment

from the PBS Newshour correspondent
NEW: @potus letter to @jonasgahrstore links @NobelPrize to Greenland, reiterates threats, and is forwarded by the NSC staff to multiple European ambassadors in Washington. I obtained the text from multiple officials: Dear Ambassador: President Trump has asked that the following message, shared with Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre, be forwarded to your [named head of government/state] “Dear Jonas: Considering your Country decided not to give me the Nobel Peace Prize for having stopped 8 Wars PLUS, I no longer feel an obligation to think purely of Peace, although it will always be predominant, but can now think about what is good and proper for the United States of America. Denmark cannot protect that land from Russia or China, and why do they have a “right of ownership” anyway? There are no written documents, it’s only that a boat landed there hundreds of years ago, but we had boats landing there, also. I have done more for NATO than any other person since its founding, and now, NATO should do something for the United States. The World is not secure unless we have Complete and Total Control of Greenland. Thank you! President DJT”
January 19, 2026 at 5:09 AM
chenchenzhang.net
btw Denmark is one of the most pro-NATO countries I know. I remember seeing giant "hygge" pro-NATO advertising on the street of Copenhagen that said something like "because we look after each other". non-political, everyday people genuinely think it's like a family.
January 18, 2026 at 10:13 PM
Reposted by Chenchen Zhang 🤦🏻‍♀️
chadbourn.bsky.social
New report from doctors shows the Iranian regime slaughtered 16,500 protesters during the communications shutdown.
Iran report says 16,500 dead in ‘genocide under digital darkness’ — The Times and The Sunday Times
‘You have ten minutes to cry,” came the officer’s curt command to the couple as he revealed the corpse of their twentysomething daughter, gunned down in the historic streets of Isfahan. After searchin...
apple.news
January 18, 2026 at 6:04 PM
Reposted by Chenchen Zhang 🤦🏻‍♀️
hebagowayed.bsky.social
“Abolish ICE” isn’t radical, it doesn’t go far enough.

Latest in @theguardian.com written with my friend @victorerikray.bsky.social.

www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Abolishing ICE isn’t enough – it’s time to center people’s humanity | Heba Gowayed and Victor Ray
It’s far from radical to reject a system predicated on violence – despite what thinktanks might claim
www.theguardian.com
January 18, 2026 at 3:33 PM
Reposted by Chenchen Zhang 🤦🏻‍♀️
victorerikray.bsky.social
This David French article shows the analytic peril of ignoring the way normal policing and repression work in communities of color. The so-called "dual state" he's highlighting (laws applied unequally, non-compliance met with violence) is *exactly* what Black Lives Matter was protesting.
Opinion | An Old Theory Helps Explain What Happened to Renee Good
www.nytimes.com
January 18, 2026 at 1:03 PM
chenchenzhang.net
the arresting-someone-for-their-accent stage of fascism
premthakker.bsky.social Prem Thakker ツ @premthakker.bsky.social · 3d
How much more in your face can it be?

"Why are you asking me for my paperwork?"
"Because of your accent."
"You have an accent too."
"Where were you born sir?"
"Where were you born at?"
"Put your hands behind your back."
January 18, 2026 at 8:58 AM
Reposted by Chenchen Zhang 🤦🏻‍♀️
premthakker.bsky.social
How much more in your face can it be?

"Why are you asking me for my paperwork?"
"Because of your accent."
"You have an accent too."
"Where were you born sir?"
"Where were you born at?"
"Put your hands behind your back."
January 17, 2026 at 9:16 PM
Reposted by Chenchen Zhang 🤦🏻‍♀️
alexjungle.bsky.social
HAPPENING NOW in Nuuk: Massive crowds are marching in Nuuk, Greenland to protest the Trump administration.
One sign says it all:
“NO MEANS NO.”
Greenland is not for sale.
January 17, 2026 at 5:17 PM
Reposted by Chenchen Zhang 🤦🏻‍♀️
georgetakei.bsky.social
Fascism at its finest.
U.S. Department Of Labor Debuts New Slogan That Is Direct Ripoff Of Famous Nazi Phrase
www.comicsands.com
January 17, 2026 at 8:51 AM
chenchenzhang.net
"The second, and much larger group, are those who commit violence to seek approval and status from others. This is especially true among men who use violence to affirm their masculinity".
nbedera.bsky.social Nicole Bedera @nbedera.bsky.social · 5d
For @msnownews.bsky.social, I wrote an article about how ICE Watch is grounded in sociological theories of violence prevention.

The reality is that most men will only commit public violence in extremely specific scenarios and ICE Watch disrupts the conditions necessary for escalation.
Opinion | I'm a Minneapolis sociologist who studies violence. Here's how ICE observers are helping.
Research into how violence occurs shows that disapproval from the people around you can help reduce it.
www.ms.now
January 17, 2026 at 8:33 AM
Reposted by Chenchen Zhang 🤦🏻‍♀️
nbedera.bsky.social
For @msnownews.bsky.social, I wrote an article about how ICE Watch is grounded in sociological theories of violence prevention.

The reality is that most men will only commit public violence in extremely specific scenarios and ICE Watch disrupts the conditions necessary for escalation.
Opinion | I'm a Minneapolis sociologist who studies violence. Here's how ICE observers are helping.
Research into how violence occurs shows that disapproval from the people around you can help reduce it.
www.ms.now
January 16, 2026 at 6:55 PM
Reposted by Chenchen Zhang 🤦🏻‍♀️
hetanshah.bsky.social
Please help spread the word on this, especially to those who may be feeling cold winds towards their research.

We’ve opened the call for our International Fellowships, enabling early career researchers to work for two years at a UK research institution
www.thebritishacademy.ac.uk/funding/sche...
International Fellowships 2026 The International Fellowships Programme enables researchers to work for two years at a UK institution with the aim of building a globally connected, mobile research and innovation workforce. Funding status Open for applications Career stage Early-career
January 15, 2026 at 8:00 PM
chenchenzhang.net
always has been though
January 16, 2026 at 7:11 PM