Bin Xu

Bin Xu is a Professor of Sociology at Emory University’s Department of Sociology. He holds a Ph.D. in Sociology from Northwestern University (2011), an M.A. from the University of California, Davis (2005), and a B.A. in Politics from East China Normal University (1996). His research bridges cultural and political sociology, focusing on civil society dynamics, collective memory, and symbolic politics in China and globally.

Key research areas include: civil society’s role in authoritarian contexts (e.g., disaster responses in China), collective memory of China’s educated youth generation, and symbolic state actions during crises. His books include *The Politics of Compassion* (2017), *Chairman Mao’s Children* (2021), and *The Culture of Democracy* (2022). These works explore themes like civic engagement under authoritarianism, generational identity, and democratic cultural norms.

Xu’s awards include the ASA Mary Douglas Prize (2018) and Choice Reviews’ Outstanding Academic Title (2022). He has secured grants from NSF and ACLS. His ongoing projects include studies on COVID memorialization and disaster politics in China. Teaching includes courses on sociology of memory, culture, and contemporary Chinese society.