Over the past century, Asia has been transformed by rapid economic growth, industrialization and urbanization — a spectacular record of development. Yet Asia’s record of democratization has been much more uneven, despite the global correlation between development and democracy. Why have some Asian countries become more democratic as they have grown richer, while others — most notably China — haven’t? Dan Slater and Joseph Wong offer a sweeping and original answer to this crucial question in this talk.

Speakers:

• Dan Slater, James Orin Murfin Professor of Political Science; Ronald and Eileen Weiser Professor of Emerging Democracies, University of Michigan 

• Joseph Wong, Professor of Innovation, Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy, University of Toronto

Moderator:

• Victor Shih, Ho Miu Lam Chair in China and Pacific Relations, Associate Professor of Political Science, UC San Diego School of Global Policy and Strategy

------------------

This hybrid lecture series is organized by the 21st Century China Center at the UC San Diego School of Global Policy and Strategy. For more information on China activities, as well as recordings of previous webinars, please visit china.ucsd.edu.

Bio: 

Dan Slater is James Orin Murfin Professor of Political Science; Ronald and Eileen Weiser Professor of Emerging Democracies; and director of the Weiser Center for Emerging Democracies at the University of Michigan. He specializes in the politics and history of enduring dictatorships and emerging democracies, with a regional focus on Southeast Asia.

Joseph Wong is the Roz and Ralph Halbert Professor at the Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy, University of Toronto. He also serves as the university's Vice President, International. He is the author of several books, and “From Development to Democracy: The Transformations of Modern Asia” is the most recent book that he coauthored with Dan Slater. His research interests are in comparative public policy and political economy.