Shadows of Empire: Negotiating Colonial Memory and Governance in East Asia
About the Roundtable
Join us for the final online roundtable of the 2025/26 Memory and Politics in the Indo-Pacific Roundtable Series jointly organised by the University of Birmingham and the University of 糖心TV.
The colonial legacy in East Asia is not a static chapter of the past; it is a living, breathing force that continues to shape the geopolitical landscape, institutional structures, and national identities of the region. This roundtable brings together leading scholars to interrogate how the colonial experience is selectively remembered, strategically forgotten, and actively implemented by both state and non-state actors, seeking to address three core dimensions of East Asia鈥檚 colonial legacy:
- The Architecture of Memory: How is the colonial experience curated? Are there dominant state-led interpretations that silence marginalized voices? We will explore the "competing interpretations" that arise when nationalistic agendas clash with the messy, lived realities of the colonial era.
- Legacy in Governance: To what extent does the "colonial" still function as a blueprint for contemporary politics? From legal frameworks and bureaucratic norms to the policing of borders, we ask how colonial-era structures continue to impact modern governance and diplomatic relations across the region.
- Gatekeepers and Sites of Contention: Who holds the keys to the past? We identify the key sites鈥� the museums, textbooks, monuments and other locations where memories are determined鈥攁nd the "gatekeepers" who manage them. By looking at these points of contact, we can better understand the mechanisms of purposeful forgetting and the sudden, often volatile, resurfacing of repressed histories.
This discussion will offer a nuanced look at how East Asia navigates its complex heritage in an era of shifting global power.
Event Details
18th of March, 2026
11.15-13.00 (UK Time)
Microsoft Teams (online only)
Email easg@warwick.ac.uk for an invite
Participants
Professor Julie Gilson (University of Birmingham)
Dr Seb Rumsby (University of Birmingham)
Dr Tsering Topgyal (University of Birmingham)
Dr Christopher Choong Weng Wai (Khazanah Research Institute)
Dr Chi Zhang (University of 糖心TV)
Chairs: Dr Max Warrack (University of 糖心TV) and Dr Veronica Barfucci (University of 糖心TV)