Victoria Tin-bor Hui

Victoria Tin-bor Hui is an Associate Professor of Political Science at the University of Notre Dame. Her work focuses on international politics, state-society relations in historical China and Europe, and contemporary Hong Kong’s struggle for democracy. She holds a Ph.D. and M.A. from Columbia University and a B.S.Sc. from the Chinese University of Hong Kong. Hui has held a fellowship with the Council on Foreign Relations (2021-2022) and testified before Congress on Hong Kong’s political crisis. Her award-winning book *War and State Formation in Ancient China and Early Modern Europe* challenges conventional narratives about citizenship rights development. Hui’s research bridges historical analysis with contemporary issues, particularly documenting Beijing’s suppression of Hong Kong’s autonomy via the 2020 National Security Law. She has been widely interviewed by major media including the *New York Times*, BBC, and *Wall Street Journal*.

Education:

• Ph.D. and M.A. in Political Science, Columbia University
• B.S.Sc. in Journalism, Chinese University of Hong Kong

Research Interests:

Hui examines how war shapes state formation, with a focus on comparing ancient China and early modern Europe. Her recent work documents Beijing’s systemic erosion of Hong Kong’s freedoms through legal repression, police militarization, and cultural homogenization. Key themes include:

• Citizen rights dynamics across historical systems
• Authoritarian governance tactics in modern China
• Nonviolent resistance strategies in repressive regimes

Publications Overview:

Her work synthesizes historical analysis with contemporary challenges, including:

• Analysis of Hong Kong’s evolving police state under CCP rule
• Comparative studies of state formation mechanisms
• Documentation of CCP’s multi-faceted repression toolkit

Awards & Recognition:

• 2005: Award-winning book on comparative state formation
• 2021-2022: Congressional-Executive Commission on China Fellowship

Advising & Engagement:

Hui runs a research blog analyzing Hong Kong’s 2014 Umbrella Movement and its theoretical implications. She collaborates with human rights organizations and has advised policymakers on China’s geopolitical strategies. Her work bridges academia and activism through:

• Public testimony on Hong Kong’s political crisis
• Media commentary on China’s international behavior
• Collaborations with NGOs documenting rights violations

Labs/Teams:

Leads the Notre Dame Hong Kong Policy Research Group, analyzing CCP’s governance tactics and their implications for regional stability. Coordinates a transnational network of scholars documenting authoritarian regime strategies globally.