April, 2025 | Featuring Our Editor-in-Chief's Timeline & Experience In Mainland China | New Podcast
From Youngstown to Beijing; Developing & Transmitting Cultural Capital
In 2004, I was a student in Beijing taking advantage of everything that the emerging metropolis offered, academically and socially. Although I lived and studied in the northwestern district of Beijing, I spent a lot of my free time in the eastern districts. There was a buzz in this area because of foreign and domestic businesses opening, foreigners moving in to cash in on the latest trends, and others taking advantage of partnerships with Chinese firms. Amongst all the development in the area due to the Beijing’s development plans for the 2008 Summer Olympics, what stuck me most were the long lines of families in front of the United States Embassy.
Though I was unfamiliar with the concept at the time, I began to realize how the development of cultural capital facilitated the pursuit of educational and professional opportunities for so many Chinese families. Younger Chinese in particular understood how the reforms were causing a dramatic cultural shift that one must navigate to achieve educational and career goals.
The Liberal Cooption of Militarism: Japan’s Election in 2024
As a result of the LDP’s long-term success, they have become a big-tent party for centrists, primarily the center-right. After the 2022 assassination of the Conservative-leaning Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and the recent abdication of his conservative colleague Kishida, the liberal faction inside the party has ascended. Within this political crisis, Ishiba seeks to reform the party from its core.
A Tale of Two Countries Part Two: Thai and Singaporean Water, Wind, and What’s Next?
Although reporting on this topic was unfortunately cut short this Fall, there remains prescient lessons to learn from our two case studies. The assessment is similar to the last article in this series: both countries are not handling the climate crisis well, but Singapore is doing better. As always, it comes down to capital—Singapore has more money to work with on a smaller land area. Thus, they achieve more and faster than Thailand.
Coming April, an intrinsic scope of Japanese culture.
Christmas And Its Many Contexts; The Holiday Season In Asia.
Winter is a beauty that I simply do not have enough words in my lexicon to give justice to. Yet, we are not here today to discuss my embrace of the season; instead, I have been tasked with bringing you the many ways Asia celebrates one of the most popular varieties of Winter celebrations—Christmas. One of colonialism's many lasting impacts is the peculiar infusion of certain Christian rituals into former colonial subjects. Most Asian nations have some spin on the holiday .
Entertainment
Asian Dramas Continue to Sweep the Emmys
Shōgun’s record-breaking wins occurred after nearly a decade of production start-ups and failures, and it wasn’t until James Clavell’s novel Shōgun was sent to screenwriter Justin Marks that the series finally had its chance.
Food
Hong Shao Ruo (红烧肉),” or “Red Braised Pork,” is a popular favorite.
When my two decades of living in China slips into conversation—it happens more than you would think—the first question that is often asked is: How? How did you do it for so long? I always respond, “The food!”.
M Magazine
Namaste! Himalayan Handicrafts
Coming February 2025, an amazing day in Berkeley Springs, West Virginia. A mountainous utopia with a piece of Asia and the perfect mindfulness retreat.
Learning, Growing, and Thriving: The Power of Faculty and Peer CollaborationEvery apprentice dreams of the day they can finally put their training to the test, when the skills they’ve worked so hard to perfect become second nature. That day when mastery is no longer just an aspiration, but a reality, .
An interdisciplinary debate of the political and economic flashpoints between the US and Asia.
The Monsoon Team
Mission Statement
The Monsoon strives to report on the region in a balanced manner. The views of our staff, interviewees, and contributors do not reflect upon the objective of this project. We are, first and foremost, a portal into the world of Southeast Asia and its effects on the world around us. The Monsoon strives to share the perspective of experts and those who call Southeast Asia their home to fill in the gap of knowledge that afflicts the modern dialogue around Asian politics. The Monsoon Newsletter is a leading educational platform committed to fostering learning and growth. Our team is dedicated to providing valuable resources and support to empower individuals in their educational journey.
DISCLAIMER: Monsoon, while affiliated with Ohio University itself, does NOT reflect the views or opinions of the University or its staff. Monsoon is intellectually and creatively independent of Ohio University and those associated with it.
Garfield Scott
Editor-In-Chief
Liliana Kijek
Environmental Sciences
Sports
Ziyi Cheng
Entertainment
Japan Project
Ariel Cevallos
Guest Writer
Food Culture
Lifestyle Journal