Social Ties, Resources, and Migrant Labor Contention in Contemporary China: From Peasants to Protesters

The Sigur Center for Asian Studies at the George Washington University presents Jeffrey Becker, speaking about his book, "Social Ties, Resources, and Migrant Labor Contention in Contemporary China: From Peasants to Protesters."

The growth of China's internal migrant labor population is one of the most important issues emerging from the Hu Jintao regime. As China continues to undergo an urbanization process as profound as any in modern history, there is little doubt migrant workers are affecting economic and political decision making at the central and local levels. Relying on interviews with over 250 Chinese migrant workers-peasant farmers who have moved to the cities in search of work-as well as interviews with Chinese labor activists, this book explores the evolution of migrant labor protest in China over the past three decades. It examines how migrant workers engage in protest today, and how they choose from available protest strategies.

Jeffrey Becker, Ph.D. is an Asia analyst in CNA's China Security Affairs Group. His research interests include Chinese maritime issues, Chinese military organization, Chinese security issues, and Chinese domestic politics and society. His research on Chinese labor politics, Chinese anti-corruption efforts, and Chinese institutions has appeared in Comparative Political Studies and the Journal of Chinese Political Science, as well as edited volumes on Chinese politics.Before joining CNA, Becker was the China director for an international nonprofit organization based in Washington, D.C. He has also served as an adjunct professor at Penn State University and the George Washington University. He has lived and studied extensively in China. Becker holds a Ph.D. in political science from the George Washington University, an M.A. in political science from Columbia University, and a B.A. in international relations and Asian studies from Colgate University.

Space is limited. RSVP here.