The Center for the Study of Globalization and Cultures (CSGC), set up in 1999
under the joint directorship of Professor Ackbar Abbas and Professor Benjamin Lee, is an interdisciplinary center based in the Department of Comparative Literature. The
focus of its work is on issues of culture and globalization with special reference
to Asia, China and Hong Kong. Major research themes include: the cultures of
capitalism; global flows of culture, media and technology; cities and globalization; new communities, publics, and identities; and postcolonialism and neo-liberalism. It is now under the joint directorship of Professor Daniel Elam and Professor Alvin K. Wong. Its activities are structured around a series of lectures, workshops and seminars with distinguished international scholars on short- or medium term visits working in collaboration with our own faculty members. In the 2017-18 and 2019-20 academic years, we have been honored to host Professor Dina Iordanova from the University of St. Andrews, Scotland.
Research Profile
The research aims of the Center are:
- to provide a site where inter-faculty, inter-departmental, and inter-institutional collaborations can take place
- to stimulate research and publications by faculty members and graduate students
- to facilitate student and staff exchanges with major universities abroad and to secure a strong international network with other research institutes
- to make the interdisciplinary study of culture and globalization into an “area of excellence”
- to promote teaching and learning in the study of globalization and cultures.
Teaching Programmes
The CSGC is designed to facilitate collaborations that benefit our research postgraduate students by enriching our research culture and providing opportunities for students to interact with scholars from around the world.
Activities
We offer a robust series of events throughout the academic year. Many of our seminars, lectures, workshops, and conferences are jointly sponsored with the Department of Comparative Literature, School of Humanities, Women’s Studies Research Centre, and other campus programs and organizations. We also partner with other universities including KCL, St. Andrews, and the University of California, among others, for events. In addition, we work with local Hong Kong organizations such as the Melon Hong Kong Sci-Fi Festival and the Hong Kong International Film Festival on programs of interest to the community.
Advisory Board
The Center has invited well-known scholars, local and overseas, to be members of the advisory board. They include:
Ackbar Abbas (University of California, Irvine)
Tim Bergfelder (University of Southampton)
Timothy Brennan (University of Minnesota)
Benjamin Lee (New School, New York)
Liao Pinghui (National Tsinghua University)
Meaghan Morris (Lingnan University)
Jan Nederveen Pieterse (University of California at Santa Barbara)