“Migration in the Time of Revolution: China, Indonesia, and the Cold War” with Taomo Zhou

Sit down with Taomo Zhou, assistant professor of history at Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, and discuss the following question: what happens when geostrategic collaborations between states intersect with ethnic tensions? This talk examines how two of the world’s most populous countries interacted between 1945 and 1967, when the concept of citizenship was contested, political loyalty was in question, national identity was fluid and the boundaries of political mobilization were blurred. Even though China and Indonesia do not share geographical borders, the existence of 2.5 million ethnic Chinese in Indonesia — many of whom had economic influence but an unclear citizenship status — gave rise to a porous social frontier. Through their everyday social, political and economic practices, “ordinary” Chinese diaspora influenced bilateral diplomacy. Their life experiences were shaped by but also helped shape the trajectory of governmental relations.