Dr. Andrea Pia

Biography

Andrea Pia is an Associate Professor at the London School of Economics with over twenty years of experience in research focusing on the dynamic interplay between society and the natural environment. His work addresses interconnected questions concerning environmental impacts of human projects and the circumstances under which successful counter-projects develop. He conducted ethnographic fieldwork in Ming dynasty villages on the outskirts of Beijing, investigating how human-induced water shortages have prompted environmentally induced migration among rural residents. His key contribution demonstrates that migratory decisions are tied to changing perceptions of place, family, work, and altered views of environmental workplace hazards. Andrea's research outputs, including publications and digital ethnography, highlight the material and symbolic destitution of historic rural communities linked to China's current environmental challenges. He authored the book "Cutting Mass Line: Water, Politics, Climate in Southwest China," which rethinks social science approaches to collective action in the context of China's water crises. Andrea's ongoing projects, including research into climate activist youth in Europe and Asia, explore the collective responses to global climate issues and redefine climate action through the lens of China's unique energy history. He advocates for public anthropology and open-access scholarship, emphasizing the importance of recognizing China's role in contemporary global socio-political dynamics.

Research Interests

Experience

Courses