The Liu Institute for Asia and Asian Studies has launched the research cluster Asian Political Cultures that supports the examination of ideas, practices, and experiences that shape politics across Asia. The theme emphasizes the cultural foundations of political life, recognizing that political institutions, movements, and policies are deeply influenced by values, beliefs, social norms, and historical memory.
The cluster’s inaugural activity will support thematic workshops held in Asia, either at Notre Dame facilities or at partner institutions, and that bring together Notre Dame faculty, visiting fellows, and/or students with scholars and/or policymakers and practitioners from Asia. Core affiliated faculty and faculty fellows of the Liu Institute are eligible to apply by February 15, 2026.
“To engage with the Asian Political Cultures theme will mean different things to different scholars,” said Liu Institute Director Michel Hockx. “For some, it could mean a focus on political institutions or practices that encode specific cultural histories or assumptions. For others, it might mean exploring the politicization of cultural objects and activities. For others still, it might mean highlighting the discursive and normative dimensions of political competition and policymaking.
“We are looking forward to supporting projects that will illuminate understanding of Asia’s political diversity and its global significance.”
Asia presents a wide range of cases for the study of politics and political culture. Democratic backsliding is a global issue, and democracy is central to the new cluster, including the study of cases in Asia that fail to meet globally accepted definitions of democracy. At the same time, Asia is home to interesting and unexpected cases of democratic resilience and to political ideas and practices that do not fit cleanly into a democracy-authoritarian dichotomy.
Across Asia, political life has been shaped by a range of traditions that interact with modern forces such as globalization, digital media, economic development, and transnational activism, producing political cultures that are dynamic and often contested. Understanding these interactions is essential for making sense of governance, participation, authority, resistance, and identity.
The research cluster is the Liu Institute’s second after Justice and Asia, which was established in 2018 and has supported 22 by projects faculty and students.
The Asia Political Cultures Committee is composed of Hockx, Joshua Eisenman, Kyle Jaros, Susan Ostermann, Nikhil Menon, and Xian Wang.
The Liu Institute for Asia and Asian Studies, part of Notre Dame’s Keough School of Global Affairs, promotes awareness, understanding and knowledge of Asia through administering a supplementary major and minor in Asian Studies, supporting student and faculty scholarship, organizing public events, and facilitating interaction and exchanges with partners in Asia. The institute was established by a gift from the RM Liu Foundation that supports the philanthropic activities of Robert and Mimi Liu and their children, Emily and Justin, both Notre Dame graduates.