Jeffrey N. Wasserstrom

Jeffrey N. Wasserstrom is professor of history at the University of California, Irvine. His books include China in the 21st Century: What Everyone Needs to Know (2010) and Vigil: Hong Kong on the Brink (2020). He is a cofounder of “The China Beat,” which strives to bridge the gap between academic and journalistic discussions of the PRC. 

July 2009, Volume 20, Issue 3

China Since Tiananmen: Middle-Class Mobilization

Some of the many China stories to attract attention recently have involved NIMBY (Not in My Backyard) protests by largely middle class crowds gathering to demand a greater say in urban development plans. This article argues that such protests a) are a significant addition to the already complex landscape of Chinese collective action (and signal…