Episode 141: Kevin D. Pham, Assistant Professor of Political Theory, University of Amsterdam

In this episode, host Namfon Narumol Choochan interviews Kevin Pham, Assistant Professor of Political Theory at the University of Amsterdam. Professor Pham's talk is titled "A Postcolonial Theory of Free Speech," in which he focuses on North Vietnamese intellectuals and their perspective on new speech in the 1950s. He argues that although the meaning and value of free speech have long been contested in the West, they overlook how people outside of the West, in illiberal conditions, theorize free speech. Growing up in San Jose, Professor Pham was intrigued by a trip to the Middle East and wanted to learn more about conflict and tensions. Tune in for Professor Pham's journey from wanting to be a doctor, to a tattoo artist, and to a political science professor!

Lightning round(Lecture Summary): 3:05

Main interview: 6:45 

Advice for researchers and recommendations: 54:39

Kevin Pham's top recommendations:  

• Vietnam: A New History by Christopher Goscha

• Vietnamese Tradition on Trial by David Marr

• Vietnamese Anticolonialism by David Marr

• Radicalism and the Origins of the Vietnamese Revolution by Hue-Tam Tai

• Understanding Vietnam by Neil L. Jamieson

• Documentary: Vietnam Geburt einer Nation

The music on the podcast is from "14 Strings!", a Filipino-style Rondalla group established at Cornell University. Check them out here. 

Produced by Adam Farihin, Neen Yada Tangcharoenmonkong and Cecilia Liu