Delia Lin is a Senior Lecturer in Chinese Studies at the Asia Institute, University of Melbourne. She has a multi-disciplinary higher education background, ranging from engineering, linguistics from a leading Chinese university to a PhD in Humanities from Griffith University, Australia.
Her long term passion lies in examining how language reflects cultural and political sensitivities. Her research typically traverses the realms of linguistics, sociology, philosophy, psychology and political science.
Her monograph, Civilising Citizens in Post-Mao China: Understanding the Rhetoric of Suzhi, was published with Routledge in 2017. It examines the predominant discourse of suzh (roughly translated as 'quality' with deeper meaning) and the cultural, philosophical and psychological underpinnings of this discourse. Using a new method to analyse Chinese governance - one that is both historical and discursive in approach - the book demonstrates how suzhi has been made into a political resource by the Chinese Communist Party-State, journeying from Confucianism to Socialism. Linking suzhi and similar discourses in post-Mao China, including those centring on notions of 'civilisation', 'harmonious society' and the 'China dream', the book highlights the ultimate question: if we cannot rely on Western models of governance to explain the Chinese Party-state, what method of analysis can we use?
Her recent research projects include notions of justice, Chinese legal theory, shame, ideology and the use of socialist core values in the legal realm.
Find out more about Delia Lin's experience
Delia Lin's highlights
Delia Lin's selected work
Lost in Translation: COVID-19 and China’s ‘Wet Markets
Journal article
The biggest cost of the COVID-19 virus in China could be freedom
Journal article
Creating a Virtuous Leviathan: The Party, Law, and Socialist Core Values
Journal article
Law and values: morality politics under Xi Jinping
Journal article
The CCP’s Exploitation of Confucianism and Legalism
Book Chapter
Double Writing: Teaching Chinese and Western Thinking in Australia
Presentation
Delia Lin's selected work
Scholarly Works
Displaying the 14 most recent scholarly works by Delia Lin.
Honours, Awards and Fellowships
Internationalisation Commendation
Faculty of Arts Excellence in Teaching Award
Dean’s Academic Excellence list (for PhD theses)
Individual Teacher Award Commendation, Griffith Awards for Excellence in Teaching
Translators Association of China
Translators Association of China
Translators Association of Hubei Province & Hubei Broadcasting Station
Credentials
Positions
Positions
Senior Lecturer Chinese Studies (Languages)
Asia Institute
Education
Education
Doctor of Philosophy
Griffith University