Sep 09 2009
CHINA’s Achilles’ Heel
All over the world, everyone talks about the behemoth of a country, China, and its irrepressible economic growth. It is projected by the World Bank that China’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) will surpass that of America’s by the year 2023, and also by independent economists, that it’s annual GDP will sustain an unmatched 8% growth for the next several years. I have heard both sides of the argument for and against the “China” hype and I must say: nobody truly knows. As I was once told, “there is no China expert”.
After living in China for about four weeks now and gaining first hand experience of the culture and the mentality of the people, I do believe China is indeed in a “league of its own” and is a country too unique to be subjected to easy criticism. I have visited well over eight different major Chinese cities and have come in close contact with people of almost every Chinese nationality, especially from the ethnic minority groups, which is why I am writing this piece to display my view on China from a first-hand perspective.
As a westerner, I am usually prone to practicing ethnocentrism and judging other cultures based on Western ideologies and so it was hard to think about China, without a predisposed Western agenda. My approach to China is as such: the chicken or the egg? Which came first? Why not both at the same time? Does it even matter? What are the ramifications for either or both? If “chicken” is replaced with “economic progress” and “egg” is replaced with “social progress”, then my approach begins to get clearer. There is without a doubt in my mind that China is only going to continue to grow economically with its 1.3 billion population, eager workforce, infrastructure expenditures, and foreign investments; but, the socio-political environment is what can make or break the country (e.x. India’s troubled political past until just recently). Due to China’s vast socio-political problems, I will only focus on the social diversity and mentality of China.
Real contact with the world did not happen in China until the late 1970’s and as the world took advantage of globalization and a growing diversity within urban areas up to that point in time, China was already far behind socially (Still today, it is not uncommon for westerners in any Chinese city, no matter how commercially developed, to get stared at by the locals). The Chinese government has taken several steps to increasing diversity in China from its indigenous population to a globally diverse population by setting up cultural contacts with other countries to bolster mutual tourism and educational opportunities, as well as trade initiatives.
Most countries like America function very well due to an “open-minded” attitude towards diversity; the lack of this in China, in some parts more than others, is what will be China’ achilles’ heel if not improved upon exponentially. The “catch” to global diversity is that social progress is a must-have, as well as a supplement to economic progress. As new ideas come from a diverse body of people and economic prosperity achieves greater heights, a new demand for more social freedoms will be awaken in China and this is what the current one-party Chinese government fears the most. China is currently running on a “controlled chaos” model and if the Chinese government continues on its current path, while still wanting to prevent the country from social unrest…they simply can’t. The status change from a “developing country” to a ”developed” one can only occur if social progress achieves up to par with economic progress.
December 16th, 2009 at 10:57 PM
Having spent two months in Asia, including a few weeks in mainland China, last year, I agree that the social issues that lie beneath the surface in China could create an unstable environment for growth there in the near future. However, I’m not sure if your point on global diversity in China holds water. Both Japan and Taiwan, for example, are incredibly insular countries in terms of diversity, yet they are powerful global players. A country doesn’t necessarily have to be diverse to be successful. It can learn from the successes and failures of its global family without accepting or welcoming those relatives on their soil. Despite this, you’re right about the precarious state of social life in China. The huge income disparities and government control of almost every aspect of its people’s lives cannot exist forever. Only time will tell China’s ability to face these realities.
December 17th, 2009 at 5:33 PM
Point well taken Dan, but my point was that in order for one to be a global player, a global perspective must be a factor and that comes from a diverse population. Japan is a good case but its economy is at a standstill and has virtually been in a recession since the Asian stock market crash of the 90’s. For example, SONY once was a corporation in trouble in the mid 90’s, but it wasn’t until they outsourced their CEO post to a foreigner that the company began to improve. The CEO brought in a Western and global perspective to the company and benefited the comapny’s long term growth. There could be a logical fallacy in my example but i’m just trying to make a relevant point.
February 2nd, 2010 at 8:38 AM
i agree with u.as u can see,the biggest obstacle to china’s developement is the lack of diversity.china still have a long way to go.
February 2nd, 2010 at 8:16 PM
what u have said doesn’t include all the problems that china is faced with. Most of China’s GDP numbers r spurious. my father is a government officer, namely a country magistrate in the province, he always purchase taxes in other places(including Beijing) to keep the GDP high in the end of a year,so he always visit me in november and december. so u may know by a handful the wholes sack. china’s GDP is like sponge,or a mirage in the desert,it cant last for a long time.and the theory that china is a threat to the world is nonsense.as u have lived in china for half a year,can may find that even in the capital of china—beijing,it is not modern at all. especially the street near the east gate of uibe:dirty…china has many problems,I think the most important one is that the corruption and the complicated interpersonal relationship.i know America is a legal system,but in china, interpersonal relationship is beyond law.i don’t mean if a person commit a crime ,he can use interpersonal relationship to get exempted,I mean ,oiling the official’s palm is really effective.this is a bad convention handed down for thousands years.
February 3rd, 2010 at 6:24 PM
i want to add sth.um,in spite of these problems,china is a great country for bringing the butter and bread to 13 million ppl in 50 years.it cant b completed by other party,a great party.and in fact chinese have realize it,and try their best to change it.only socialism can save china.