Peidong Sun

Overview

I have a keen interest in the social and cultural history of China, particularly since 1949. My research initially focused on the historical and contemporary nuances of everyday life in China under the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) rule. I have examined how everyday practices—from clothing choices to spouse selection and underground reading among China's Baby Boomers—have been shaped by experiences and memories ranging from Mao’s communist revolution to the socio-economic reforms introduced under Deng Xiaoping after 1978.

In attempting to grasp the intricacies of life during the Mao era (1949–1976), I have reflected on the Chinese political system: How can China's authoritarian regime, despite recurring challenges and upheavals, demonstrate such continuity over time? What roles have ordinary Chinese citizens played—whether through adaptation, negotiation, and resistance—in sustaining or shaping this system from within? How did they interpret their experiences under shifting political and social conditions, and what kinds of lessons or understandings did they draw from those encounters? These questions, and its broader implications, have been a central focus of my research. While many esteemed colleagues have examined elite politics and power dynamics during the Mao era, I have sought to explore the lived experiences of ordinary people—their routines and the subtle politics embedded within—areas I felt merited closer attention. My aim is not necessarily to evaluate the success or failure of China’s communist revolution since 1949, but to explore its long-term effects on individuals, society, and China’s evolving relationship with the wider world.

Very fortunately, I have had the opportunity to engage in scholarly discussions in English, Chinese, and French. Over the years, I have contributed articles to respected journals such as The China Quarterly, The Chinese Historical Review, and Foreign Affairs, written books in Chinese and English, and participated in various other academic projects. In 2016, I collaborated on a special issue for The China Quarterly, and in 2017, I contributed to a volume on the Chinese Cultural Revolution published by Cambridge University Press. 

Currently, I am working on several projects, including three monographs and a memoir, following the publication of Unfiltered Regard for China: French Perspectives from Mao to Xi (London: Routledge, 2025. Pre-order from Aug. 20, 2025; ships after Sept. 10, 2025).

The COVID-19 pandemic was a revelation for me. Alongside key shifts in my academic path since 2019, it has deeply influenced my development as both a person and a scholar. As China’s global role grows, strategic competition among major powers intensifies, and debates over democracy and authoritarianism reframed international discourse, my work has increasingly turned toward interpreting the nature of the CCP regime, China’s political evolution, societal changes, and global ambitions. Meanwhile, as access to China becomes more limited and academic freedom faces mounting constraints, the mission of studying China has become both more complex and more essential. In these conditions, I believe it is important to proceed with intellectual humility, ethical responsibility, and a commitment to scholarly inquiry.

Research Focus

My first book, Who Will Marry My Daughter (Beijing: Chinese Social Sciences Press, 2012; 2013), examines how parents' experiences during the Mao era shaped their perspectives on their children's mate choices, particularly for those children born after China's economic opening in 1978. A curious trend has manifested since 2005: urban parks in major Chinese cities have become matchmaking hubs. Though countless parents congregate every weekend and holiday with hopes of finding potential spouses for their adult children, success remains elusive. I probe this phenomenon, suggesting that while these markets might not yield many matches, they serve as an emotional outlet for a generation facing the collective anxieties brought about by rapid market-driven changes and increasing individualism.

My second book, Fashion and Politics (Beijing: People’s Publishing House, 2013), explores the subtleties of everyday sartorial practices, choices, conformity and resistance in Guangdong province during the Cultural Revolution (1966-76). I present three findings. First, Guangdong's proximity to Hong Kong and Macao significantly influenced local fashion. Many residents received clothing packages from relatives abroad. Second, the China Import and Export Fair in Guangzhou, persisting even during the Cultural Revolution, became a source of sartorial inspiration. Locals often observed and were influenced by the diverse attire of foreign attendees, which contrasted with their standard revolutionary garb. Finally, these sartorial trends set the stage for a major fashion transformation in China from the late 1970s to the 1980s. My book challenges prevalent stereotypes of monochromatic, uniform, and gender-neutral dress codes during the Cultural Revolution, highlighting the presence of regionally distinctive and gender-specific choices.

By merging insights from everyday clothing fashion with the intricacies of mate choices, I've strived for a comprehensive understanding of changing perceptions and dynamics within the PRC. Both books, as pioneering works in their respective areas, have been warmly received. Fortunately, Who Will Marry My Daughter achieved best-seller status in 2013, selling 10,000 copies within two months of its debut.

Awards and Honors

Academic Appointments 

1. Distinguished Associate Professor of Arts & Sciences in China and Asia-Pacific Studies, Jul., 2022-Present
2. Associate Professor of History at Cornell University, Nov., 2021-Present
3. Digital Visiting Professor, Institute of Sinology, Heidelberg University, Apr. 2021-Oct. 2021.
4. Resident Fellow, European Institute for Chinese Studies Paris, Feb. 2021- Jun. 2021.
5. Visiting Professor, Center for International Studies, Paris Institute of Political Studies, Feb. 2020-Feb. 2021.
6. Associate Professor, Department of History, Fudan University, Jul., 2013- Feb., 2020
7. Assistant Professor, Department of Sociology, East China University of Political Sciences and Law, Jul., 2010-Jun., 2013
8. Assistant Professor, Department of Sociology, Shanghai University, Jul., 2007-Jun., 2010

Academic Fellowships:

1. Visiting Scholar, Harvard-Yenching Institute, Harvard University, Aug. 2016-Aug. 2017.
2. Edward Teller National Fellow, Hoover Institution, Stanford University, Sept. 2017–Aug. 2018.
3. BBRG Non-Resident Scholar, Department of Gender & Women’s Studies, University of California, Berkeley, Sept. 2018-Aug. 2019.
4. Visiting Scholar, Lee Hysan Visiting Scholar, Universities Service Centre for China Studies, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Jan. 3-31, 2016.
5. Visiting Scholar, School of Historical and Philosophical Studies, University of Melbourne, Jul.-Aug. 2014.
6. Academic Visitor, Merton College & China Center, Oxford University, Sept.18-Oct. 3, 2013.
7. Visiting Scholar, Lee Hysan Visiting Scholar, Universities Service Centre for China Studies, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Jul.-Aug. 2008.

Course Offerings:

Spring Semester

• History of U.S.–China Relations, 1949–2025 (Seminar-Spring 2026 )
• Tyranny and Dignity: Chinese Women from the Cultural Revolution to the White Paper Protests (Lecture)

Autumn Semester

• Life and Death in China under Mao (Lecture)
• Global Maoism: Past and Present ( Seminar)
• Fashion and Politics in the 20th-Century China (Seminar)

Publications

Forthcoming Books (in English)

1. Red DNA: How the Cultural Revolution Has Shaped the Xi Jinping Generation.
2. The CCP Mind: A Hidden Story.
3. Crossing the Three Great Walls: A Memoir
4. Unfiltered Regard for China: French Perspectives from Mao to Xi. London: Routledge, 2025.
5. Fashion and Politics in China's Cultural Revolution. London: Bloomsbury, 2026.

Books (in Chinese)

1. Who Will Marry My Daughter? The Parental Matchmaking Corner in Shanghai’s People’s Square. Beijing: Chinese Social Sciences Press, 2012; Reprint 2013.
2. Fashion and Politics: Everyday Clothing Practices in Guangdong during the Cultural Revolution. Beijing: People’s Publishing House, 2013.

Edited Volumes (in English)

Thornton, Patricia, Peidong Sun, and Chris Berry, eds. Red Shadows: Memories and Legacies of the Chinese Cultural Revolution. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2017.

Translations (French to Chinese)

1. Crozier, Michel. L’Entreprise à l’écoute: Apprendre le management post-industriel. Paris: InterÉditions, 1989. Translated as Qiye zai tingting: xuexi hou gongye guanli. Shanghai: Truth & Wisdom Press, 2009.
2. Herpin, Nicolas. La Sociologie de la consommation. Paris: La Découverte, 2004. Translated as Xiaofei shehuixue. Beijing: Social Sciences Academic Press, 2005.

Responsibilities

Selected Media Features and Interviews:

My research on contemporary China—its history, politics, and society—has been cited in international media. Recently, my academic profile was featured in Wong Chun Han’s 2023 book, Party of One: The Rise of Xi Jinping and China's Superpower Future (Simon & Schuster).

My work has appeared in some media outlets across North America, Europe, and the Asia-Pacific, including:

• United States: The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, Los Angeles Times, Associated Press, NPR
• United Kingdom and Europe: The Economist, The Guardian, BBC, Reuters, Le Monde, La Repubblica
• Asia-Pacific and Latin America: South China Morning Post, The Star (Malaysia), Infoseek (Japan), Jornal GGN(Brazil)
• Canada and Australasia: Le Devoir, The Southland Times (New Zealand)
• Other regions: Additional national outlets in Norway and beyond

I have also contributed to  podcast discussions, including NPR’s Here & Now, NPR's State of the World, and Democracy IRL, hosted by Stanford Professor Francis Fukuyama.

Between 2012 and 2014, following the publication of my first two books, my perspectives were featured in leading Chinese media, including:

• Print: Xinhua News Agency, China Comment, China Youth Daily, China Business News, Global Times, Jiefang Daily, Xinmin Evening News, Oriental Morning Post, Life Weekly, Southern Metropolis Daily, Yangcheng Evening News, Times Weekly
• Digital platforms: Tencent, Sina, Phoenix, Sohu, Consensus Net, and others

For a full list of interviews and media features, please see this compiled list.

Institutional Services:

1. Member, Cornell Humanities Council(2024-2026)
2. Core Faculty, Cornell East Asia Program(2022-present)
3. Faculty Affiliate, Cornell Institute for China Economic Research (2025–present)
4. Cornell Faculty Senator(2024-2027)
5. Member, Cornell Senate Nominations and Elections Committee(2024-2027)

In the news

• A&S honors 23 faculty with endowed professorships