George Crane

Sam (George T.) Crane

Chair of Asian Studies and the Edward S. Greenbaum 1910 Professor of Political Science

[email protected]
413-597-3343
Schapiro Hall Rm 340
At Williams since 1989

Education

B.A. State University of New York, Purchase (1979)
M.A. University of Wisconsin, Madison, Political Science (1981)
Ph.D. University of Wisconsin, Madison, Political Science (1986)

Areas of Expertise

In recent years my writing and research have focused on ancient Chinese philosophy. I made a first foray into this field with, Aidan’s Way. I then published Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Dao: Ancient Chinese Thought in Modern American Life,  which explores applications of Confucian and Daoist ideas to contemporary issues.

I blog on ancient Chinese thought at The Useless Tree. And I have made a book out of that blog, that has just been published (2019): Blogging China in the 21st Century: Philosophical, Historical, and Political Observations from The Useless Tree Blog.

Courses

PSCI 247

Political Power in Contemporary China (not offered 2020/20)

PSCI 265

The International Politics of East Asia (not offered 2020/20)

PSCI 345

Cosmology and Rulership in Ancient Chinese Political Thought (not offered 2020/20)

PSCI 354 / ASST 245 / HIST 318

Nationalism in East Asia (not offered 2020/20)

Current Committees

  • Global Studies