Mi You: Slow Silk Road, networks and denationalistic imaginaries

Mi You’s long-term research into Silk Roads encompasses a historical review of trade and cultural transfer as much as the contemporary geopolitics of Asia.

An analytical lens of desire with a deep-historical, yet post-nationalistic perspective, pans across both medieval decentralized trade networks and late capitalistic networks. In her talk, You will examine artist Royce Ng’s recent work about the Japanese puppet regime of Manchukuo. The capitalistic system Japanese governor Nobusuke Kishi exercised there has influenced the postwar economy and politics of Japan, Korea, Southeast Asia, and eventually China. With a speculative leap, You looks into the geobody of the Silk Roads and the possibility of a “slower Silk Road” envisioned by French anarchist geographer Élisée Reclus.