Chang C
- Research Program Mentor
MPhil candidate at Oxford University
Expertise
Philosophy, Political Theory, Comparative Literature, Journalism
Bio
I was born in Tokyo and raised partly in Japan and the United States. I did my BA in Comparative Literature at Princeton University, where I studied modern Chinese and Japanese literature with a minor in Gender Studies and Statistics. I am currently doing an MPhil at Oxford University in Political Theory, where my research involves the application of democratic theory to problems in digital technologies. Outside of academia, I've worked as a data scientist for Amazon and a consultant for Analysis Group, an economic consulting firm. Currently, I am the Editor of the Oxford Political Review, a magazine on politics, international relations, and current affairs. I also work as a freelance journalist writing op-eds on political theory for Quillette Magazine, and others.Project ideas
Philosophy and Digital Technologies
In this project, you will learn about some of the key political thinkers of the Western canon and their relevance for thinking about problems in the digital age. What might Plato, Aristotle, Walter Benjamin, Niccolo Machiavelli, Jean Jacques Rousseau, or Emmanuel Kant have to say about the Internet, social media, and AI? We'll look at primary sources along with some contemporary theorists who approach digital technologies from a theoretical standpoint. The project will culminate in a research paper in which you will do the same: discuss a problem of your choice related to new technologies and show how political theory might provide some answers.
Politics and Op-ed Journalism
Ever thought about writing a political op-ed for a national magazine? In this project, we'll read some works of political philosophy and their approaches to hot button political topics like the welfare state, universal health care, universal basic income, feminism, and affirmative action. We'll also look at some examples of successful op-ed writing in the political arena. The project will include both a political and writing component: we'll look at how to formulate good political arguments while learning how to craft a well-written op-ed. The project will culminate in your own op-ed piece, which I will help to try and get published.
Coding skills
R, Python, Stata, SASLanguages I know
Japanese and ChineseCredentials
Work experience
Education
Reviews
"Chang has been a great mentor, and I’ve really enjoyed working with him over the past months. Not only has he been super helpful in writing my first op-eds, but he has inspired me to be more interested in politics and political theory, and has always pushed me to think at the next level in our conversations."