Launched in early 2008 and continuing through July 2012, The China Beat provided context and criticism on contemporary China from China scholars and journalists. Based around a group of active contributors at the University of California, Irvine, including co-founders Kenneth Pomeranz and Jeffrey Wasserstrom, the blog drew on a global group of China watchers in the U.S., China, the U.K., Australia, Japan, Canada, Taiwan, and many other locations.
The China Beat received praise and notice in many locations, including the New York Times' “Paper Cuts” blog, Far Eastern Economic Review, Shanghai City Weekend, and The Beijinger. Writers who follow China issues, like James Fallows and Andrew Leonard, recommended China Beat to their readers.
In March 2009, China in 2008: A Year of Great Significance was published. Based on postings that appeared at The China Beat during China’s eventful Olympic year, the book also includes new pieces and essays that were published in other formats.
The China Beat Staff
Maura Elizabeth Cunningham was the editor and a PhD candidate in the Department of History at the University of California, Irvine. Her writing has appeared at Forbes.com, the Ms. magazine blog, History News Network, and the Asian Review of Books. Kate Merkel-Hess was the founding editor from January 2008 to February 2010 and subsequently a consulting editor. She teaches in the Department of History and the Asian Studies Program at Penn State. Kenneth L. Pomeranz was the co-founder and consulting editor and teaches in the Department of History at the University of California, Irvine. He is the author, most recently, of The Great Divergence: China, Europe, and the Making of the Modern World Economy. Jeffrey N. Wasserstrom was the co-founder and consulting editor and teaches in the Department of History at the University of California, Irvine. He is the author, most recently, of China in the 21st Century: What Everyone Needs to Know.
The China Beat relied on a continually changing and growing group of guest contributors too numerous to list here. However, a few writers who made recurring contributions to the site were:
Alec Ash keept the blog Six and, as our in-house “youth correspondent,” wrote regularly about youth culture in China.
Paul R. Katz was the contributor behind the “Tales from Taiwan” feature since the blog launched. He is a research fellow at Academia Sinica and author, most recently, of Divine Justice: Religion and the Development of Chinese Legal Culture.
In March 2009, China in 2008: A Year of Great Significance was published. Based on postings that appeared at The China Beat during China’s eventful Olympic year, the book also includes new pieces and essays that were published in other formats.
The China Beat Staff
Maura Elizabeth Cunningham was the editor and a PhD candidate in the Department of History at the University of California, Irvine. Her writing has appeared at Forbes.com, the Ms. magazine blog, History News Network, and the Asian Review of Books. Kate Merkel-Hess was the founding editor from January 2008 to February 2010 and subsequently a consulting editor. She teaches in the Department of History and the Asian Studies Program at Penn State. Kenneth L. Pomeranz was the co-founder and consulting editor and teaches in the Department of History at the University of California, Irvine. He is the author, most recently, of The Great Divergence: China, Europe, and the Making of the Modern World Economy. Jeffrey N. Wasserstrom was the co-founder and consulting editor and teaches in the Department of History at the University of California, Irvine. He is the author, most recently, of China in the 21st Century: What Everyone Needs to Know.
The China Beat relied on a continually changing and growing group of guest contributors too numerous to list here. However, a few writers who made recurring contributions to the site were:
Alec Ash keept the blog Six and, as our in-house “youth correspondent,” wrote regularly about youth culture in China.
Paul R. Katz was the contributor behind the “Tales from Taiwan” feature since the blog launched. He is a research fellow at Academia Sinica and author, most recently, of Divine Justice: Religion and the Development of Chinese Legal Culture.