Koji Hirata

@khirata.bsky.social

Modern Chinese (as well as Japanese and Russian/Soviet) history. Monash University. Former Shanghai resident. 中国(及び日ソ・露)近現代史。モナシュ大学。元上海居民。

So happy to finally share the news that my book, “A History of Uncertainty: Science between the Ottoman Empire and Early Modern Europe,” will be out in Spring 2027 by the University of Pittsburgh Press. I still can't believe it's now beyond my hands and on its way to meeting its readers.

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Perhaps the first time that my work (Phd thesis) has been cited in a "top 5" econ journal😃 Michela Giorcelli, Bo Li, "Technology Transfer and Early Industrial Development: Evidence from the Sino-Soviet Alliance," The Review of Economic Studies, 2026;, rdag047, doi.org/10.1093/rest...

Technology Transfer and Early Industrial Development: Evidence from the Sino-Soviet Alliance

Abstract. This paper studies the long-term effects of technology and know-how transfers on structural transformations. In the 1950s, the Soviet Union suppo

doi.org

While I was unable to attend the BHC meeting this year, I am honored that my book, "Making Mao’s Steelworks, was selected as a finalist for the Hagley Prize in Business History. I am very grateful to the prize committee, and congratulations to the recipient and fellow finalists.

I am very happy to announce that I was elected a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society. 光栄なことに英国王立歴史学協会(Royal Historical Society)の会員(Fellow)に選出していただきました。

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Yangyang Cheng’s excellent review of the much-discussed “House of Huawei” by Eva Dou is packed with sharp insights—and to my surprise and delight, cites the far less-discussed “Making Mao’s Steelworks” by yours truly🙂 昨年出版され話題沸騰の華為についての本の非常に興味深い書評。何故かワタクシの地味な本も引用されてます🙂

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Yangyang Cheng@yangyangcheng.bsky.social · last yr.

Should Huawei be feared? How did it rise when others failed? What distinguishes capitalism in China from those in the West? For @chinafile.bsky.social, I write about the most controversial telecom giant, in review of Eva Dou's fascinating new book, House of Huawei: www.chinafile.com/reporting-op...

My book Multiracial Britishness: Global Networks in Hong Kong 1910-45 is out in paperback now 😁 It's now only £29.99 (and a further 20% off discount with the code HIST1525) at shorturl.at/15uJU . Really pleased that it received positive reviews on outlets eg H-Diplo, AHR & Journal of Social History!

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I will give my online talk, “Local Governments and Central SOEs: Historical Evidence from Angang” (Urban China Lecture Series) on February 18 at 8:30PM EST (February 19 at 9:30AM Beijing Time).

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A Cambridge student bought my book at the Cambridge University Press Bookshop and sent me this photo. I wrote the book mainly while I was a Cambridge postdoc. When I got tired of writing, I would go for a walk and sometimes drop into the CUP Bookshop to browse random academic books.

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Of the more than 400 Soviet experts working in various government agencies and enterprises in China in 1954, only one was assigned to the PRC's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and that Soviet person served as a Spanish teacher.

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