Kevin Luo
267 19th Ave S
Minneapolis,
MN
55455
Kevin Luo is an assistant professor in the Department of Political Science at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities. His primary research agenda focuses on state capacity and the construction of state power in China and Asia, drawing insights from both historical and contemporary perspectives. His broader interests also include authoritarianism and democratization, land and environmental politics, development and security in East Asia, and contemporary politics in China and Taiwan.
He received his Ph.D. in Political Science from the University of Toronto (Canada), M.A. in Regional Studies: East Asia from Harvard University, and B.A. (honors) from the University of Chicago. Before joining the University of Minnesota, he held various academic roles at UCLA, Harvard, and Tsinghua University (China). His research has appeared in Comparative Political Studies and Studies in Comparative International Development, while his quotes and commentaries have been featured in outlets such as Nikkei Asia, CNBC, the Guardian, and the Monkey Cage blog. He is currently working on a book manuscript tentatively titled "Grassroots Origins of Regime Power: rural reform, state building, and political orders in Cold War Asia."
Educational Background
- Ph.D.: Political Science, University of Toronto, 2022
- M.A.: Regional Studies: East Asia, Harvard University, 2015
- B.A. (honors): Political Science, University of Chicago, 2012
Specialties
- Chinese Politics
- East Asian Politics
- State Building
- Authoritarian Politics and Democratization
- Politics of Development
- Land and Environment