The Department of Political Science will be hosting UCR PhD graduate Kevin Pham to discuss his recently published book.

When: March 10, 2025

Time: 12:10PM to 1:30PM

Where: HMNSS 1503

Title:  The Architects of Dignity: Vietnamese Visions of Decolonization

Abstract: Vietnam has long been a crossroads of empires and thus a site of rich cross-cultural intellectual exchange. The Architects of Dignity introduces Vietnamese political thought to debates in political theory, showing how Vietnamese thinkers challenge Western conventional wisdom. It traces an intergenerational debate among six influential Vietnamese intellectuals and political leaders. These figures had competing visions for how the Vietnamese should strengthen themselves to stand up to French colonial domination, what the Vietnamese should do with their traditions given the influx of political and social ideas from the West, and how they should harness feelings of national shame to construct national dignity. Their answers offer surprising lessons for how we in the West can enhance our understanding of decolonization, shame, dignity, and cross-cultural engagement.