Shaun O'Dwyer
@shaunodwyer.bsky.social
Professor, Kyushu University
Author, "Confucianism's Prospects" (SUNY 2019), Editor, "Handbook of Confucianism in Modern Japan" (AUP, 2022), editor "Confucianism at War, 1931-1945" (Routledge, 2024)
https://hyoka.ofc.kyushu-u.ac.jp/html/100017990_en.html
Author, "Confucianism's Prospects" (SUNY 2019), Editor, "Handbook of Confucianism in Modern Japan" (AUP, 2022), editor "Confucianism at War, 1931-1945" (Routledge, 2024)
https://hyoka.ofc.kyushu-u.ac.jp/html/100017990_en.html
Important to remember Japanese conservatives are not in lockstep about Japan's wartime past. 20 years ago Yomiuri News magnate Watanabe Tsuneo sponsored an historical inquiry into Japan's WWII responsibility, and denounced the Yasukuni Shrine.
China Daily reviewed it favorably.
China Daily reviewed it favorably.
November 17, 2025 at 10:03 PM
Important to remember Japanese conservatives are not in lockstep about Japan's wartime past. 20 years ago Yomiuri News magnate Watanabe Tsuneo sponsored an historical inquiry into Japan's WWII responsibility, and denounced the Yasukuni Shrine.
China Daily reviewed it favorably.
China Daily reviewed it favorably.
2019 "Japan Times" article by me, "Taiwan's Democracy is worth Defending," which points out that long-term ties between Taiwan and Japan transcend colonial nostalgia and Cold War era geopolitics, reflecting strong civil society relations. web.archive.org/web/20190807...
November 14, 2025 at 11:47 PM
2019 "Japan Times" article by me, "Taiwan's Democracy is worth Defending," which points out that long-term ties between Taiwan and Japan transcend colonial nostalgia and Cold War era geopolitics, reflecting strong civil society relations. web.archive.org/web/20190807...
Confirmation of key thesis in @cooleyoneurasia.bsky.social
and @alexdukalskis.bsky.social's book "Dictating the Agenda:" channels for global cultural and market liberal influence now being weaponized by authoritarian states against liberal society institutions www.theguardian.com/education/20...
and @alexdukalskis.bsky.social's book "Dictating the Agenda:" channels for global cultural and market liberal influence now being weaponized by authoritarian states against liberal society institutions www.theguardian.com/education/20...
UK university halted human rights research after pressure from China
Exclusive: Leading professor at Sheffield Hallam was told to cease research on supply chains and forced labour in China after demands from authorities
www.theguardian.com
November 3, 2025 at 5:43 AM
Confirmation of key thesis in @cooleyoneurasia.bsky.social
and @alexdukalskis.bsky.social's book "Dictating the Agenda:" channels for global cultural and market liberal influence now being weaponized by authoritarian states against liberal society institutions www.theguardian.com/education/20...
and @alexdukalskis.bsky.social's book "Dictating the Agenda:" channels for global cultural and market liberal influence now being weaponized by authoritarian states against liberal society institutions www.theguardian.com/education/20...
New paper by Adam Chen-Dedman on queer cultural studies in Taiwan, highlighting new scholarship centering the importance of liberal democracy in protecting spaces for LGBT expression and dissent. As more signs emerge of PRC anti-LGBT crackdowns, it’s also timely.
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
Self-determination as queer survival: neo-idealism and the remaking of a cultural studies for Taiwan
This article examines the geopolitical frameworks advocated by the pioneers of cultural studies in Taiwan who introduced queer studies into Taiwanese scholarship. They view the defense of a free an...
www.tandfonline.com
October 29, 2025 at 10:58 PM
New paper by Adam Chen-Dedman on queer cultural studies in Taiwan, highlighting new scholarship centering the importance of liberal democracy in protecting spaces for LGBT expression and dissent. As more signs emerge of PRC anti-LGBT crackdowns, it’s also timely.
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
Aspects of Kyung-Sup Chang's "compressed modernity" thesis here: rapid post-communist era change into a market-based economy leaves older communal norms unstably coexisting with new individualized norms; and individualization unfolds unevenly along gender divide. www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Poland’s birth rate is in freefall. The cause? A loneliness epidemic that state cash can’t solve | Anna Gromada
Bonuses for families have done nothing to fix a baby bust caused by post-communist Europe’s relationships crisis, says sociologist Anna Gromada
www.theguardian.com
October 29, 2025 at 1:06 AM
Aspects of Kyung-Sup Chang's "compressed modernity" thesis here: rapid post-communist era change into a market-based economy leaves older communal norms unstably coexisting with new individualized norms; and individualization unfolds unevenly along gender divide. www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Reposted by Shaun O'Dwyer
As a long-time resident in Taiwan, it's clear that Lai Ching-te's rhetoric of Taiwan hasn't substantially changed from Tsai Ing-wen. What has clearly changed is the CCP has up its tempo with its aggression against Taiwan. This is clear when analyzing the data. 1/
www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/a...
www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/a...
MOFA rejects ‘Time’ ‘reckless leader’ label - Taipei Times
Bringing Taiwan to the World and the World to Taiwan
www.taipeitimes.com
October 25, 2025 at 2:07 PM
As a long-time resident in Taiwan, it's clear that Lai Ching-te's rhetoric of Taiwan hasn't substantially changed from Tsai Ing-wen. What has clearly changed is the CCP has up its tempo with its aggression against Taiwan. This is clear when analyzing the data. 1/
www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/a...
www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/a...
Reposted by Shaun O'Dwyer
Looks like people showed up in DC
October 18, 2025 at 3:43 PM
Looks like people showed up in DC
Recent events remind me what an alien, polarized society the US is. The religious, "Holy War" quality of far-right veneration at Charlie Kirk's funeral; and now left gushing over Assata Shakur, whose Black Liberation Army outfit engaged in robberies, gangbanger shakedowns, and horrific murders
September 28, 2025 at 5:13 AM
Recent events remind me what an alien, polarized society the US is. The religious, "Holy War" quality of far-right veneration at Charlie Kirk's funeral; and now left gushing over Assata Shakur, whose Black Liberation Army outfit engaged in robberies, gangbanger shakedowns, and horrific murders
Fans of Walter Mignolo, and fans of certain publications in the Princeton-China book series, take note
"the most important anticolonial intellectuals may not use the language of decolonization and may not be in unis, but on the streets, with social movements, and in prison" Alpa Shah. not the state-affiliated think tanks talking deco, not the deco big names talking multipolar civilizational order
22yo student Zhang Yadi, an activist with 华语青年挺藏会 ChineseYouthStand4Tibet who's supposed to begin her MA study at SOAS, has been detained while visiting family in China & charged with "inciting separation" www.instagram.com/p/DOy4rwViEk...
September 21, 2025 at 5:45 AM
Fans of Walter Mignolo, and fans of certain publications in the Princeton-China book series, take note
Reposted by Shaun O'Dwyer
22yo student Zhang Yadi, an activist with 华语青年挺藏会 ChineseYouthStand4Tibet who's supposed to begin her MA study at SOAS, has been detained while visiting family in China & charged with "inciting separation" www.instagram.com/p/DOy4rwViEk...
September 20, 2025 at 9:25 AM
22yo student Zhang Yadi, an activist with 华语青年挺藏会 ChineseYouthStand4Tibet who's supposed to begin her MA study at SOAS, has been detained while visiting family in China & charged with "inciting separation" www.instagram.com/p/DOy4rwViEk...
There's a Rawlsian message here about the taming effects of a liberal society on previously violent extremist groups, but I know there are Japan Studies people hereabouts who are allergic to "procedural liberal" messaging
A far-left activist and lesbian dominatrix with a traumatic past. Who says politics in Japan is dull? throwoutyourbooks.wordpress.com/2025/09/14/c...
Meet the Chūkaku-ha Joan of Arc
News Post Seven published an extensive four-part interview in July with a 21-year-old woman identified only as Ninomiya, described as “Chūkaku-ha’s mystery beauty”. More than the …
throwoutyourbooks.wordpress.com
September 17, 2025 at 1:26 AM
There's a Rawlsian message here about the taming effects of a liberal society on previously violent extremist groups, but I know there are Japan Studies people hereabouts who are allergic to "procedural liberal" messaging
Reposted by Shaun O'Dwyer
Last week @edinburgh-uni.bsky.social hosted the ENOJP Conference for the 1st time. We welcomed 81 presenters over 3 days, including keynotes from Prof Hiroshi Abe (Kyoto University) & @shaunodwyer.bsky.social (Kyushu University). PhD student Ellie Palmer shares her experience - edin.ac/4n4pSsM
Webs of Kinship: Exploring Environmental Ethics in Japanese Philosophy | School of Philosophy, Psychology & Language Sciences | School of Philosophy, Psychology and language sciences
Last week the school hosted the 9th Conference of the European Network of Japanese Philosophy (ENOJP) for the first time. Host Philosophy PhD student Ellie Palmer Davulcu, recalls the success of the e...
edin.ac
September 15, 2025 at 10:56 AM
Last week @edinburgh-uni.bsky.social hosted the ENOJP Conference for the 1st time. We welcomed 81 presenters over 3 days, including keynotes from Prof Hiroshi Abe (Kyoto University) & @shaunodwyer.bsky.social (Kyushu University). PhD student Ellie Palmer shares her experience - edin.ac/4n4pSsM
"No one should be killed as punishment for political expression...In addition to our basic abhorrence of violence, we are also proponents of democracy, which depends on free speech and open inquiry. Without them, collective self-governance is impossible"
jacobin.com/2025/09/char...
jacobin.com/2025/09/char...
Charlie Kirk’s Murder Is a Tragedy and a Disaster
The assassination of Charlie Kirk threatens to embolden the far right and provide Donald Trump with a pretext for crushing dissent. Escalating political violence corrodes democratic norms and poses a ...
jacobin.com
September 12, 2025 at 6:10 AM
"No one should be killed as punishment for political expression...In addition to our basic abhorrence of violence, we are also proponents of democracy, which depends on free speech and open inquiry. Without them, collective self-governance is impossible"
jacobin.com/2025/09/char...
jacobin.com/2025/09/char...
Reposted by Shaun O'Dwyer
In my father's poli sci classroom in 1970s Taiwan, he would always call out the 'spy students' in the back: "Take good notes! Spicy bit!" The class would titter. Even the report-maker would look a bit abashed.
In this A&M student's righteous "Dear Leader" invocation, there was no shame felt at all.
In this A&M student's righteous "Dear Leader" invocation, there was no shame felt at all.
A professor at Texas A&M taught… something related to gender that offended a student, who secretly filmed herself objecting. That video is picked up by TX legislators, who demand her firing, and now the dean and dept head have been fired.
www.kbtx.com/2025/09/09/a...
www.kbtx.com/2025/09/09/a...
A&M Dean removed following student complaints over curriculum
The Department of Justice has also acknowledged the situation and said it would be investigating.
www.kbtx.com
September 9, 2025 at 3:04 PM
In my father's poli sci classroom in 1970s Taiwan, he would always call out the 'spy students' in the back: "Take good notes! Spicy bit!" The class would titter. Even the report-maker would look a bit abashed.
In this A&M student's righteous "Dear Leader" invocation, there was no shame felt at all.
In this A&M student's righteous "Dear Leader" invocation, there was no shame felt at all.
Chilling with European Network for Japanese Philosophy president Alex Mustacea before my presentation at the "Webs of Kinship" conference on Japanese philosophy at Edinburgh University this week
September 7, 2025 at 7:57 AM
Chilling with European Network for Japanese Philosophy president Alex Mustacea before my presentation at the "Webs of Kinship" conference on Japanese philosophy at Edinburgh University this week
Reposted by Shaun O'Dwyer
For decades, American experts have flown around the world teaching local activists how to practice democracy. Now it’s time for activists from authoritarian countries to come to American and show Americans how to fight autocrats.
August 24, 2025 at 11:25 PM
For decades, American experts have flown around the world teaching local activists how to practice democracy. Now it’s time for activists from authoritarian countries to come to American and show Americans how to fight autocrats.
Reposted by Shaun O'Dwyer
Despite their awareness of “the region’s ongoing human rights atrocities,” Princeton University Press staffers were persuaded to join a government-sponsored tour of Xinjiang, and somehow inveigled into repeating CCP ethnic harmony propaganda.
Princeton University Press Stumbles Into a Xinjiang Tour Debacle
The Soviet-style “Potemkin tour” is alive and well in today’s China – as PUP found out when several of its staff took a controversial trip to Xinjiang.
buff.ly
July 22, 2025 at 1:31 PM
Despite their awareness of “the region’s ongoing human rights atrocities,” Princeton University Press staffers were persuaded to join a government-sponsored tour of Xinjiang, and somehow inveigled into repeating CCP ethnic harmony propaganda.
Reposted by Shaun O'Dwyer
"All who care about higher education must stand up & fight back against this unprecedented continuing assault. To preserve our democracy, we have no choice."
-Todd Wolfson AAUP President, "Columbia University Settlement an Unprecedented Disaster"
www.aaup.org/news/columbi...
@proftwolf.bsky.social
-Todd Wolfson AAUP President, "Columbia University Settlement an Unprecedented Disaster"
www.aaup.org/news/columbi...
@proftwolf.bsky.social
Columbia University Settlement an Unprecedented Disaster
Never in the history of our nation has a university so thoroughly bent to the will of an autocrat. All who care about higher education must stand up and fight back against this unprecedented continuin...
www.aaup.org
July 24, 2025 at 8:03 PM
"All who care about higher education must stand up & fight back against this unprecedented continuing assault. To preserve our democracy, we have no choice."
-Todd Wolfson AAUP President, "Columbia University Settlement an Unprecedented Disaster"
www.aaup.org/news/columbi...
@proftwolf.bsky.social
-Todd Wolfson AAUP President, "Columbia University Settlement an Unprecedented Disaster"
www.aaup.org/news/columbi...
@proftwolf.bsky.social
The Harvard-based publisher responsible for cancelling the Harvard Educational Review's special issue on education and Palestine was accused of "anticipatory compliance."
Where've we heard those words before?
www.theguardian.com/education/20...
Where've we heard those words before?
www.theguardian.com/education/20...
Revealed: Harvard publisher cancels entire journal issue on Palestine shortly before publication
As Harvard’s feud with Trump escalated, so did tensions over an ‘education and Palestine’ issue of a prestigious journal. Scholars blame the ‘Palestine exception’ to academic freedom
www.theguardian.com
July 24, 2025 at 1:01 AM
The Harvard-based publisher responsible for cancelling the Harvard Educational Review's special issue on education and Palestine was accused of "anticipatory compliance."
Where've we heard those words before?
www.theguardian.com/education/20...
Where've we heard those words before?
www.theguardian.com/education/20...
Reposted by Shaun O'Dwyer
Princeton University Press stumbles into a Xinjiang tour debacle – Shaun O’Dwyer for The Diplomat: ‘international academic presses operating in China must be vigilant against United Front entanglements’
Princeton University Press Stumbles Into a Xinjiang Tour Debacle
The Soviet-style “Potemkin tour” is alive and well in today’s China – as PUP found out when several of its staff took a controversial trip to Xinjiang.
thediplomat.com
July 23, 2025 at 8:20 AM
Princeton University Press stumbles into a Xinjiang tour debacle – Shaun O’Dwyer for The Diplomat: ‘international academic presses operating in China must be vigilant against United Front entanglements’
A substack following up my "Diplomat" article on Princeton University Press's Xinjiang tour, exploring how foreign academic publishers' dependence upon import agencies for market access in China entangles them in authoritarian clientelism. aussieinkyushu.substack.com/p/regarding-...
July 23, 2025 at 6:26 AM
A substack following up my "Diplomat" article on Princeton University Press's Xinjiang tour, exploring how foreign academic publishers' dependence upon import agencies for market access in China entangles them in authoritarian clientelism. aussieinkyushu.substack.com/p/regarding-...
A lot of the Aussie pundits opining on Taiwan are far more familiar with the layout of inner city pubs than with the geopolitics of East Asia.
Glad that Financial Review published this, from someone who actually knows Taiwan
Glad that Financial Review published this, from someone who actually knows Taiwan
July 23, 2025 at 5:30 AM
A lot of the Aussie pundits opining on Taiwan are far more familiar with the layout of inner city pubs than with the geopolitics of East Asia.
Glad that Financial Review published this, from someone who actually knows Taiwan
Glad that Financial Review published this, from someone who actually knows Taiwan
It's important in PUP's case to see this behavior in the context of its clientelist relationship with its publication importer in China, the China National Publications Import and Export Group. I hint at this in my "Diplomat" article on the tour- 1/ thediplomat.com/2025/07/prin...
July 22, 2025 at 3:07 AM
It's important in PUP's case to see this behavior in the context of its clientelist relationship with its publication importer in China, the China National Publications Import and Export Group. I hint at this in my "Diplomat" article on the tour- 1/ thediplomat.com/2025/07/prin...
Reposted by Shaun O'Dwyer
🇨🇳 On the Princeton University Press: "Henry was somehow inveigled into repeating its ethnic harmony propaganda. If they cannot resist such inducements, can they resist government censorial pressure that compromises the independence of their book acquisitions processes?" By @shaunodwyer.bsky.social:
Princeton University Press Stumbles Into a Xinjiang Tour Debacle
The Soviet-style “Potemkin tour” is alive and well in today’s China – as PUP found out when several of its staff took a controversial trip to Xinjiang.
thediplomat.com
July 21, 2025 at 3:35 PM
🇨🇳 On the Princeton University Press: "Henry was somehow inveigled into repeating its ethnic harmony propaganda. If they cannot resist such inducements, can they resist government censorial pressure that compromises the independence of their book acquisitions processes?" By @shaunodwyer.bsky.social:
My article for Diplomat Magazine, “Princeton University Press Stumbles into Xinjiang Tour Debacle.” In spite of the academic side to this tour, it was definitely a United Front influence stunt. But some questions remain…1/ thediplomat.com/2025/07/prin...
Princeton University Press Stumbles Into a Xinjiang Tour Debacle
The Soviet-style “Potemkin tour” is alive and well in today’s China – as PUP found out when several of its staff took a controversial trip to Xinjiang.
thediplomat.com
July 21, 2025 at 10:18 AM
My article for Diplomat Magazine, “Princeton University Press Stumbles into Xinjiang Tour Debacle.” In spite of the academic side to this tour, it was definitely a United Front influence stunt. But some questions remain…1/ thediplomat.com/2025/07/prin...