THINQon : A chinese world?

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Mark Opal

A chinese world?

Latest Post: February 14, 2011 at 2:03 AM

13 followers

China's economy has passed Japans becoming the second largest in the world next to the United States. Fox news would have you building your bomb shelters. I'm not so sure. Often it seems that America's interests have the entire world in an iron grip. As a nation America is so powerful because it has its hands in projects the world over, it has its money in other people's hands the world over. And money speaks all sorts of languages. Two of the main ones being politics and culture. What fox news is scared of is the decline of American influence. Why should this be such a radical fear? Shouldn't we as human beings wish for the well-being of our fellow man?

For years people have been prophesizing the rise of a global China. I didn't really understand this only figured it meant they were making money. And they are. Their economy comprises almost 1.5 trillion dollars annually. America's economy is currently somewhere in the 13 trillions. So the actual passover is still a ways off. But, what does the continual rise mean for the state of world affairs? Why should people think it is a harborer of bad times or some terrible omen for the state of the world? As far as I can tell the world has been fucked up, is fucked up, and will continue to be fucked up. Only maybe in 30 years someone else will be more responsible than America.

But I figure what has people so worried is the fear of a communist regime gaining such monumental power. Now, I am no expert on Chinese history or politics or anything for that matter and can only begin to offer a muddied opinion on their state of affairs. But they've never seemed like such a terribly red communist system. In fact, in a lot of ways they have been readily willing to adhere to capitalist principles in their ascent to economic powerhouse. Where they have remained traditional is in the limiting of individual freedoms. (not of course a tenant of communism but an unfortunate side effect in many of our available case studies)

But does anyone else see the possibilities that a rising China might bring to the very people at the heart of their amazing economic feats? There is this idea that with the availability of new types of freedoms, others will quickly follow. And what money offers is first and foremost freedom. Should it continue to pour into China then shouldn't it follow that people will buy things? And what as a country should they want to buy more than anything? Political freedom and human rights.

What do the people of China stand to gain by the rise of their country? What do the people of the world?

What do the people of China stand to lose by the rise of their country? What does the rest of the world?

It's easy for me to speak in ideals and in great big hypotheticals, but I wonder just what it means that China is changing so rapidly and more than that I wonder if it is not on us to decide what it means, not the political pundits.

Reply to:

James Clair, Rounding 3rd and going home

December 23, 2010 at 5:21 AM

2 followers

I have just returned from a two year stay in the northern part of the PRC. Which qualifies me for nothing except a cup of coffee to share my observations. If I understand you right Marc, you give us three questions.

What do Chinese people, in general, want to buy with their new found purchasing power?
What do the people of China stand to gain or lose by the rise of their country? What isthe world's expectation with this rise of power.
How will Beijing deal with the responsibilities that come with “soft power”

I should preface with; each of these questions could produce an essay of their own.

However- the first question is relatively easy. Urban Chinese want pretty much the same as you and me. Social-economic standing decides what one can afford to buy. Cars, electronics, clothes and real estate. The shopping places vary widely from open markets to malls that make 5th avenue look lame. Seriously, a trip to Shanghai is enlightening. Urban Chinese also spend a lot of money on education mostly in science, business and even culturally. Similar to the 50's here in the USA. [what has here happen since then?)

Chinese are very frugal -often too much. Yet, they will spend a lot on festivities, pageants and shows. If you buy a Chinese lunch, you had better return the favor unless it was to gain your favor to begin with. It is the land of long hair, memories and short foresight.

One must bear in mind that a majority of the population is still rural, some with money but most with very little. [Much the embarrassment to the party] Disparity has provide a prejudice between the two classes. This leads us to the next two questions.

What is socialism with Chinese characteristics? First, there is a odd assumption [IMO] that the size of an economy makes power. The age old question of size matters. [OMG!] Soft power is what China hopes to gain however I believe the China will shoot itself in the foot. China is far from America's equal in soft power but it would be foolish to ignore the gains it is making. EG: BRIC (for Brazil, Russia, India, China), APEC(Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation) and ASEAN (Association of Southeast AsianNations)

This is what those in the gaming world call building an alliance. Chinese call it. You and I call it guanxi, schmoozing. It's close bur not really the same. This is something some [cough] administrations forgot how to do. Let's not blind fold ourselves.

This post is referenced by the following other contributors:

Mark Opal

in "A revolution in Egypt, good for the Egyptians or bad for them? / An American character to the Egyptian revolution?"

(The Chamber of Politics)

Reply to: or

Morgan Milford, young

December 28, 2010 at 11:55 PM

22 followers

Who knows?

What's funny is that right now I assume there are men in suits behind closed doors and around big tables waging big gambles to the questions you've posed. I have the feeling a lot of them are betting on China.

China's challenge in the upcoming years will be to create an expanded middle class. For the past decades their sustained growth has been on the backs of tired and worn factory workers. As they continue edging into the superpower a lot of analysts are positive they will become they need to address the mountainous levels of disparity. It's dangerous because it means changing their economic strategy from production/exports, one that is reliant on an American consumer base, to one of internal consumption, where their own people have the ability to be entrepreneurs and consumers in their own right.

It's a dangerous debate especially for those of us in the United States whose well-being is abstractly linked to the factory workers in China. That we can continue living the lifestyles we do with abnormally high purchasing power requires cheap imports from China. If China were to expand its middle class and accordingly let the value of its currency rise then it will cost more money for us in the United States to import. At once, we need to continue consuming their cheap products and yet justify our global position as security-keeper and wag our finger at their human right violations, violations that allow them to not pay workers their deserved wages. We dialogue about the injustices and yet can't change our own lifestyles to allow for the alleviation of those injustices.

I wonder though why we vilify China so much. The idea that communism is a global evil is outdated and doesn't hold up. If we do hold any anger towards China it should be about their treatment of their own people. But that it's not really a question in the ongoing conversation about China, it's more about them superseding us as the world's sole pillar of power. It's a competition. We want to be the best. Number 1. Well, that's silly. Money doesn't make us the best. But money does give us power. All of us. Those at the top and those at the bottom live better than the rest of the world. So what will happen should China gain money? Well, ideally, everyone in China will gain money. And with money comes relevancy, comes voice, comes political power, and possibly justice.

I'm excited for China's rising global position and also scared. Hopefully with their increasing power it will not only be the government and the party who gain but also those at the bottom. Only time will tell. But what is certain is that our positions here in the west are not independent of those out there. The world isn't so fractured anymore...

Reply to: or

Qing Rick

In response to Morgan Milford

February 14, 2011 at 2:03 AM

1 follower

'I wonder though why we vilify China so much.'

America's society is in a different phase of its life. The US government has had a formal existence since 1776; many would argue the real power has been in place since 1913.

Conversely, the PRC has only been in power for a few decades. It can claim 5000 years of culture, but as a government, it is very, very young.