George E. Dutton

George E. Dutton is a Professor in the Department of Asian Languages and Cultures at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), within the UCLA College. His research focuses on early modern and early colonial Vietnamese history, with specializations in Southeast Asian studies, religious history, and sociocultural dynamics. He holds a Ph.D. in History from the University of Washington (2001), an M.A. in International Relations from Yale University (1992), and a B.A. in History and International Relations from Brown University (1989). Dutton’s work includes seminal books such as A Vietnamese Moses (2016), examining the life of Vietnamese Jesuit Philiphê Binh, and Sources of Vietnamese Tradition (2012), a co-edited collection of historical documents. His research spans topics like military technology, religious syncretism, and colonial-era language policies. He currently serves as Southeast Asia representative on the Program Committee of the Association for Asian Studies.

His academic pursuits blend historical analysis with interdisciplinary approaches, exploring themes such as Vietnamese Catholicism, Zomia ethnic communities, and the intersection of literature and politics. Dutton’s recent projects include studies on neologisms in early 20th-century Vietnamese and historiographical critiques of colonial Vietnam. His teaching covers courses on Vietnamese history, Southeast Asian religions, and modern literature, reflecting his commitment to both scholarly rigor and pedagogical engagement.