The Google Books preview of my book, Weapons in Space: Technology, Politics, and the Rise and Fall of the Strategic Defense Initiative, is now available. The book will be out in less than 30 days!
books.google.com/books?id=C4HPE…

Today at 1pm PST, I'll be presenting with David C. Logan on the 1969 Sino-Soviet Nuclear crisis, moderated by David Holloway CISAC

If you’re at #ISA2024 and are up for an early Saturday morning panel…

The The Economist has a new piece out on China's 'princelings,' for which I shared some thoughts.
economist.com/china/2024/04/…

Big thank you to John Randolph Illinois Global Institute for hosting me for a book talk today as part of their 'China and the World' series

Just to let you know my eight episode podcast, Face-Off: US vs China, drops soon. April 9. Joined by Rana Mitter on every episode. Talk to spies, diplomats, economists, and more. For some warmth, Yo Yo Ma. Funded by Carnegie Corp., out of Harvard Kennedy School.

If you happen to be in Atlanta, tomorrow (Wednesday March 20) I'll be giving a talk on the history of Sino-Russian relations at Emory University (co-sponsored by the Carter Center China Program)
history.emory.edu/news-events/in…

In Foreign Affairs, Asfandyar Mir and I explore the increasing normalization of Taliban by regional powers, led by China - and what that means for the US' assumption that diplomatic recognition is the greatest source of leverage.

(tl;dr: it likely isn't)
foreignaffairs.com/united-states/…

Excited to see 'We All Fall Down: The Dismantling of the Warsaw Pact and the End of the Cold War in Eastern Europe' by Sanford School of Public Policy Simon Miles finally out in print belfercenter.org/sites/default/…

After nearly a decade of work on the Russia-Iran relationship, I wrote a book about it.

hurstpublishers.com/book/russia-an…

Out now: 'The Mountains Are High,' my second book – a reported memoir about rural escape in Dali, southwest China, and the different ways we find freedom. Press and book talks, as featured in Economist and Guardian: alecash.net/the-mountains-…
Get it here:
amazon.com/Mountains-Are-…

Two important new Chinese language books recently published outside the mainland: one the history of a pro-reform journal that was closed in 1987, another an autobiography written by Xu Youyu, a prominent liberal intellectual who has suffered for criticizing the regime

📢3pm TODAY: Judy Shapiro's AU School of International Service book launch for 'China's Environmental Challenges' with SIS students Yuefeng Shi and Annie Robertson. Don't miss it! eventbrite.com/e/815861843737…

Joseph Torigian: “You Don't Know Khrushchev Well”: The Ouster of the Soviet Leader as a Challenge to Recent Scholarship on Authoritarian Politics

from Journal of Cold War Studies
direct.mit.edu/jcws/article/2…

最近对我启发最大的两位学者是唐志学Joseph Torigian 和王裕华 Yuhua Wang.

SIS welcomes Professor William Akoto to our faculty! Professor Akoto joins the SIS Department of Foreign Policy & Global Security and contributes his expertise in cyber conflict. Welcome, Professor Akoto! bit.ly/3HqrMAW

The Federal Penitentiary Service has announced the death of Alexei. However, it remains crucial to await confirmation from his legal team and family. So far, here are my reflections on the matter:

First, politically speaking, it's a difficult truth, but Navalny's decision to…

Another fantastic read for my grad Qualitative Methods seminar University of Michigan Political Science, this time for our week on archival research. Amazing work Joseph Torigian!

How many of the CCP Central Committee's 205 members do you need to appoint a General Secretary?

Only 52, by the letter of the Party's own regulations.

I analyze mechanics and scenarios for succession, the biggest 'known unknown' of Chinese politics:

asiasociety.org/policy-institu…