iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Arthur Kaufman @arthurkaufman.bsky.social · 23/01/2026

Thanks so much for the kind words 🙏

Reposted by Arthur Kaufman

Frances Zhu Hisgen 朱潇逸 @franceshisgen.bsky.social · 22/01/2026

Missed this wonderful piece by @arthurkaufman.bsky.social over the holidays. I'm such an admirer of his work and this piece is no exception!

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Mareike Ohlberg @mareikeohlberg.bsky.social · 15/12/2025

‘Once we become submissive, thinking that [accommodation] can protect us, we still get targeted in the end … [B]eing targeted has nothing to do with content actually having an issue’ madeinchinajournal.com/2025/12/12/w...

madeinchinajournal.com

What Is the Purpose of ‘China-Watching’ in the United States Today?

The executive ignored widespread dissent to force through an illiberal agenda. Violent confrontations between protesters and police brought forth increased repression. In less than a year, new policie...

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Reposted by Arthur Kaufman

Arthur Kaufman @arthurkaufman.bsky.social · 12/12/2025

"What does it mean if we continue producing non-reflexive, business-as-usual discussions of authoritarian-like issues in another country when our own country is undergoing an authoritarian takeover?" For @madeinchinajournal.com, I urge us to reimagine our work. madeinchinajournal.com/2025/12/12/w...

madeinchinajournal.com

What Is the Purpose of ‘China-Watching’ in the United States Today?

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Maura Elizabeth Cunningham @mauracunningham.bsky.social · 15/12/2025

"By leveraging our China expertise—using intersectional, comparative, and critical lenses—we can analyse and critique the structures of authoritarianism unfolding in both China and the United States, and thereby encourage others to push back." — @arthurkaufman.bsky.social @madeinchinajournal.com

madeinchinajournal.com

What Is the Purpose of ‘China-Watching’ in the United States Today?

The executive ignored widespread dissent to force through an illiberal agenda. Violent confrontations between protesters and police brought forth increased repression. In less than a year, new…

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Reposted by Arthur Kaufman

Made in China Journal @madeinchinajournal.com · 13/12/2025

The American China Studies field is facing an existential threat under the Trump administration. To protect its integrity, we should infuse our work with a critical, comparative, and intersectional analysis of authoritarianism in the United States and China, argues @arthurkaufman.bsky.social.

madeinchinajournal.com

What Is the Purpose of ‘China-Watching’ in the United States Today?

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Arthur Kaufman @arthurkaufman.bsky.social · 12/12/2025

More details in the article. I don't have all the answers, but I hope to spark a more public conversation about this so that we can collectively respond to the current moment in a way that's proportional to the threat we're facing.

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Arthur Kaufman @arthurkaufman.bsky.social · 12/12/2025

This isn't just a more responsible way to do "China watching," it's also immediately necessary for combatting the spread of authoritarianism in the US, which existentially threatens our own field, among others. We must see ourselves as agents capable of political action, not powerless bystanders.

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Arthur Kaufman @arthurkaufman.bsky.social · 12/12/2025

We must embed within our work a critical, comparative, and intersectional lens to analyze authoritarianism in China and the US. Drawing on a Global China method, we can highlight interlinking dynamics and structures driving authoritarian practices in both countries without essentializing them.

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Arthur Kaufman @arthurkaufman.bsky.social · 12/12/2025

madeinchinajournal.com

What Is the Purpose of ‘China-Watching’ in the United States Today?

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Reposted by Arthur Kaufman

China Digital Times @chinadigitaltimes.net · 01/07/2025

In recent months, we have lost a significant portion of our funding. Yet we remain committed to helping the world better understand China at this critical juncture in global politics. We are asking for your help to keep our websites up and running. giving.chinadigitaltimes.net/page/serverc...

giving.chinadigitaltimes.net

Keep CDT Online: Donate for Server Expenses

China Digital Times (CDT) is a non-profit organization that relies on institutional and individual donations to sustain our operations. In recent months, we have lost a significant portion of our inst...

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Reposted by Arthur Kaufman

Arthur Kaufman @arthurkaufman.bsky.social · 03/06/2025

What responsibilities do China-watchers have towards China, the US, and Palestine? How are they connected? @redderbeanpaste.bsky.social shared her perspective in a conversation with me. Here are some highlights. thelasttrain.substack.com/p/doing-what...

thelasttrain.substack.com

Doing What's Easy vs. Doing What's Right

Rui Zhong draws a connection between China-watchers' responsibilities towards China, the US, and Palestine.

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Reposted by Arthur Kaufman

Eli Friedman @elifriedman.bsky.social · 03/06/2025

Really appreciated this conversation. It's hard to speak out against the genocide, trust me. But the alternative is worse

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Reposted by Arthur Kaufman

Frances Zhu Hisgen 朱潇逸 @franceshisgen.bsky.social · 03/06/2025

"what I would really like people to try to do even if we're not ideologically aligned is to understand that your job is secondary to the material well-being of people in and affected by China": have been trying to find the right words to capture this idea. a brilliant interview.

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Reposted by Arthur Kaufman

Todd Stein @toddstein.bsky.social · 03/06/2025

Highly recommend this interview, in which Rui Zhong challenges fellow China watchers to reflect on how they respond/fail to respond to authoritarianism in the U.S. and policy on Gaza through the lens of their own work.

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Arthur Kaufman @arthurkaufman.bsky.social · 03/06/2025

"People are going to have to start getting a little bit more uncomfortable. Frankly, will it be a little bit detrimental to people's careers? I don't know, maybe… But at the end of the day, do you want to do what's easy or do you want to do what's right?"

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Arthur Kaufman @arthurkaufman.bsky.social · 03/06/2025

"If somebody made their name on human rights and pushing back against authoritarian practices, then [Gaza] is definitely something they should be talking about, because otherwise what are you doing? What are you waiting for?"

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Arthur Kaufman @arthurkaufman.bsky.social · 03/06/2025

"We owe it to our discipline and to our mission to talk with the public, to make things understandable, to frankly assess authoritarianism, censorship, propaganda, and overreach by law enforcement entities, regardless of who is conducting the overreach."

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Arthur Kaufman @arthurkaufman.bsky.social · 03/06/2025

thelasttrain.substack.com

Doing What's Easy vs. Doing What's Right

Rui Zhong draws a connection between China-watchers' responsibilities towards China, the US, and Palestine.

142

Reposted by Arthur Kaufman

Arthur Kaufman @arthurkaufman.bsky.social · 25/05/2025

In my latest post that kicks off this interview series, a Chinese professor in the US reflects on their political evolution amid America's slide into authoritarianism. thelasttrain.substack.com/p/the-relati...

thelasttrain.substack.com

The Relationship Between Your Words and Justice in the World

Kicking off this interview series, a Chinese professor in the US reflects on their political evolution amid America's slide into authoritarianism.

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Arthur Kaufman @arthurkaufman.bsky.social · 25/05/2025

ICYMI, do check out my first post about our need to push back against the censorship of pro-Palestine voices in the US, and the parallels with censorship in China. bsky.app/profile/arth...

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Arthur Kaufman @arthurkaufman.bsky.social · 25/05/2025

A highlight: "There has to be a point for why we are doing our work...There is a relationship between your words and justice in the world. You have to believe in what you say and stand up for what you say, because those are not just words."

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Arthur Kaufman @arthurkaufman.bsky.social · 25/05/2025

thelasttrain.substack.com

The Relationship Between Your Words and Justice in the World

Kicking off this interview series, a Chinese professor in the US reflects on their political evolution amid America's slide into authoritarianism.

131

Reposted by Arthur Kaufman

Arthur Kaufman @arthurkaufman.bsky.social · 07/04/2025

My first post is about how the American China-watching community has an important role to fulfill in countering the crackdown on free speech, starting with Palestine. Our silence has consequences for everyone, and we must speak out before it's too late. thelasttrain.substack.com/p/from-the-r...

thelasttrain.substack.com

From the [REDACTED] to the [CENSORED]

The American China-watching community has an important role to fulfill in countering the crackdown on pro-Palestine speech.

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Arthur Kaufman @arthurkaufman.bsky.social · 07/04/2025

thelasttrain.substack.com

From the [REDACTED] to the [CENSORED]

The American China-watching community has an important role to fulfill in countering the crackdown on pro-Palestine speech.

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Arthur Kaufman @arthurkaufman.bsky.social · 07/04/2025

I made a Substack yesterday. It's a space for the China-watching community to reflect on our positionality and responsibilities, at a moment when the foundations of the field are under attack in the West. I hope this will spark a broader conversation. thelasttrain.substack.com/about

thelasttrain.substack.com

About - Last Train

China-watchers rediscovering home, and getting their house in order. Click to read Last Train, a Substack publication. Launched an hour ago.

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Reposted by Arthur Kaufman

China Digital Times @chinadigitaltimes.net · 15/11/2024

Welcome new followers! China Digital Times has been publishing news and translations focused on human rights and freedom of expression in China for more than 20 years. For those new to our work, get started with our Translations...  (1/9) #china

chinadigitaltimes.net

Translation Archives

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