I teach Chinese politics and ancient philosophy at Williams College.
Dublin City, Ireland
Joined June 2011
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Sure. And Christian missionaries foresaw a grand Confucian-Christian synthesis. How’d that work out?
I spoke of it very briefly at my book promotion yesterday in Paris--I think it is an important if somewhat speculative point. The Sinification of Marxism may, for the first time in history, create a unified Euro-Asian ideology that would bring together ancient Greek and ancient Chinese influences. Plato & Confucius through Marx.
The ideological implications of China’s economic success
Sinified Marxism and its future
branko2f7.substack.com/p/the…
They’re going to smuggle him in the back door of the Great Hall and then rush him back to the airport 😆
1/ Not long ago, there was discussion about a monumental Trump state visit to China, including a potential military parade, large business delegation, and multi-city stops. Now, three weeks out, the scale of the visit appears to be shrinking (🧵) nytimes.com/2026/03/11/world…
I'm exporting the content and might park it somewhere, but that's likely futile
Ah well, Dao is vast and flows where it will regardless of our expectations. The Useless Tree is gone from its old place but its formless integrity continues.
/fin – at Williamstown, MA
It was a fun time, the old time of blogs but that's all gone now. I did make a book of some parts of it, so that remains.
4/
amazon.com/Blogging-Chi.... – at Williamstown, MA
It was a great run. Lots came out of it: ideas for articles, invitations to conferences, lots and lots of friends. There were moments when I'd walk into a bar or a room and someone would say, "Oh, you're the Useless Tree!"
3/ – at Williamstown, MA
I started it on July 1, 2005 but haven't posted anything since 2020. Yet it feels like a loss (even though Zhuangzi says there can be no loss).
2/ – at Williamstown, MA
Coming back here to mark an ending, since Twitter had been an important channel for my old blog.
Typepad, the old blogging platform, just announced that they are closing down. That means the real end of the Useless Tree.
1/
uselesstree.typepad.com/usel… – at Williamstown, MA
Not on here much, but if you're in London on October 27, stop by.
soas.ac.uk/about/event/polit… – at Fingal, Ireland
Haven’t been here in a while but if you’re in Dublin on May 19th, come by Trinity College for my talk.
Thread on Jimmy Lai testimony
The “never-s” #JimmyLai told the court this morning:
1. Apple Daily never gave orientation or training on editorial policy to its hires
2. He never discussed anything with @lukedepulford , “his only purpose to contact me was for me to publish his articles”
Sam Crane retweeted
My latest: Hong Kong’s High Court on Tuesday sentenced 45 pro-democracy activists to up to 10 years in jail under subversion charges, marking an end to the largest national security case in Hong Kong under a sweeping law imposed by Beijing.
voanews.com/a/hong-kong-impr…
Here's an injustice that strikes close to home. – at Oxford, England
Price of a pint goes up in Oxford and expected to increase further
oxfordmail.co.uk/news/247214…
Sam Crane retweeted
Looking at Trump's national security picks, seems like he's going for people who lack the standing, authority, backbone, or wisdom to stand up to him, no matter what he decides to do. #TeamofLackeys