I specialize in economic and political sociology with a research focus on China. I study institutional change in social fields through ethnographic field methods. To date I undertaken studies of private business, Buddhism, the underground economy, and transnational networks. I teach a range of courses from the introductory to the graduate level: Introduction to Sociology; Introduction to the Field Methods; Political Sociology; Economic Sociology; State and Society in China; Political Sociology of Globalization.
Research Interests
sociology, global studies, political sociology, economic sociology, social networks, religion, business, cuisine, globalization, power, systems theories
Research History
Oct 2003
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Mar 2004
Graduate School of Humanities and Sociology, The University of Tokyo Adjunct Instructor
The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, Program on Peace and International Cooperation Research and Writing Grant for August, 1998-March, 2000 (U.S. $100,000)
1992
Harvard Academy for International and Area Studies Kukin Fellowship
For my class on economic sociology, the students first read about theoretical perspectives and then develop a field project that they pursue. This links up what they learn in the classroom with the real world.
From when I first started teaching at Sophia, I have asked students on the last day of class to write an evaluation of the course. Depending on the course, this is either an essay or a standardized evaluation form. This gives the students an opportunity to communicate to me the strong and weak points of the course, so that I can improve it each year.
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