Three campus members to discuss politics, possibilities of Hong Kong protests

The campus community is invited to “The Protests in Hong Kong: Who? Why? What’s Next?,” a discussion led by Paul Schroeder, visiting assistant professor of political science; Timothy Webster, assistant professor of law and director of East Asian Legal Studies; and undergraduate student Ho Ching Cheung.

The event will take place Wednesday, Oct. 29, from 4:15 to 5:45 p.m. in Clark Hall, room 309.

Numerous banners read “Disobey and Grasp Your Destiny” on Sept. 22, as the Occupy Central with Love and Peace movement began protests designed to shut down parts of Hong Kong’s central business district as a way to demand democratic elections for Hong Kong’s chief executive in 2017. But what kind of future may result? How wide and deep is the protesters’ support? What explains both the protests and the Chinese government’s reaction? How do the protests, and China’s reaction, fit into the historic patterns of Chinese politics? Three expert members of the campus community will lead discussion of these questions.

Ho Ching Cheung will give his perspective as a student from Hong Kong who has been studying the events. Schroeder has studied China for three decades and, before coming to Case Western Reserve University, he worked for the National Committee on U.S.-China Relations and managed a firm advising American companies on doing business in China. Webster has studied China’s policymaking on issues including human rights, trade policy and employment discrimination, and teaches courses about law and the legal system in China.

For more information, visit policy.case.edu.