This symposium will explore the context, causes, and consequences of the Jasic conflict, perhaps China’s most politically consequential labor movement of the decade. A variety of speakers will draw out how the incident has implicated so many social actors - students, feminists, leftists, NGOs, and lawyers - and to think about what this case reveals about shifting politics in the Xi era. Given the intensity and breadth of the crackdown, we will also reflect on possibilities for advancing labor rights in this newly repressive environment.

Preliminary Schedule

1-1:15 Welcoming Remarks
Eli Friedman

1:15-2:00 Keynote
Pun Ngai & Sophie Chen
“New Alliance of Students-Workers in Struggle of Union Formation: The Case of Jasic Conflict”

2:00-3:30 Repressive Contagion
Leta Hong Fincher, “Feminism and Labor Rights Activism in the Era of Xi Jinping”
Eli Friedman, “The Jasic Fallout: Implications for Academic Freedom and Student Activism”
Aaron Halegua, lawyers and legal proceedings

3:30-3:45 Break

3:45-4:45 Governance
Kevin Lin, "Farewell to Labor NGOs? Repression, Regulation and Alternatives"
He Gaochao, "The rise and decline of social governance regime in Chinese labor politics"

4:45-5:00 Concluding remarks
Eli Friedman, Pun Ngai