Pomeranz, considered by many to be the world’s leading expert on Chinese economics, will take part in two public events during his visit.
He will deliver a lecture entitled “Historical Perspectives on the East Asian Miracle” at 4:10 p.m. Oct. 17 in Bryan Hall, Room 305 The talk explores the rapid economic growth of East Asia and investigates the patterns of trade, social changes and environmental impacts of industrialization and suggests implications for contemporary affairs.
Pomeranz will also take part in a seminar-style presentation on popular religion in Chinese history at 4:15 p.m. Oct. 18 in the Bundy Reading Room in Avery Hall. The discussion will focus on the ways in which religious change has intersected with two major developments in Chinese history: the growth of a largely unified nation dominated by a single ethnic group, and the transformation of gender roles and concepts of individuality.
Pomeranz’s WSU visit is sponsored by the national Phi Beta Kappa organization, a national honorary fraternity, and by the Department of History and the Department of Foreign Languages and Cultures at WSU.
“We are delighted with the visiting scholar program sponsored by our national organization, as each year it enables us to bring such an outstanding scholar to campus,” said Michael Neville, professor of philosophy and event co-organizer for Phi Beta Kappa. “The primary aim is to enrich the education of undergraduates across all of the arts and sciences, but the whole community benefits immensely from the insights of leading scholars like professor Pomeranz,” Neville said.
Established in 1928, WSU’s Phi Beta Kappa chapter was one of the first founded at a land-grant university.
