Regional Conference: New York Conference on Asian Studies (NYCAS)

Recent events such as the successes and failures of states at mitigating the COVID-19 pandemic; the targeting of religious, racial and ethnic minorities; widespread protests against military regimes; the possibility of a new cold war between China and the U.S.; and the dramatic takeover of Afghanistan by Taliban forces have highlighted the ever-crucial role of the state in Asian societies, both in its presence and absence.

In bringing scholarly perspectives to these current events, questions that interest us include: What historical legacies of the state persist in contemporary Asia? What roles do technology and urban development play in extending state power to unprecedented degrees?