Stephen R. Platt

Stephen R. Platt is a Professor of History at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, specializing in modern Chinese history and Sino-Western relations. He holds a PhD in Chinese History from Yale University, where his dissertation won the Theron Rockwell Field Prize. His research focuses on 19th-20th century China, including the Taiping Rebellion, Opium Wars, and U.S.-China military and diplomatic interactions.

• Teaches courses on modern Chinese history, U.S.-China relations, and historiography.
• Recipient of the Cundill History Prize and Baillie Gifford Prize nominations.
• Active in public scholarship through New York Times op-eds, Atlantic articles, and media interviews.

Research emphasizes transnational dynamics, analyzing how China's interactions with Western powers shaped its modern trajectory. His most recent work, *The Raider*, explores Marine Corps officer Evans Carlson's engagement with Chinese communist tactics during WWII. Platt's earlier works include groundbreaking studies of the Taiping Rebellion and Qing Dynasty decline.

Awards highlight his contributions to both academic and popular history, blending rigorous scholarship with accessible narrative storytelling. His work has been featured in major publications globally and translated into multiple languages.