Our guest Youzi has given us a kernel for further discussion in one of his comments: And even within China, between different provinces and peoples are tremendous psychological differences, perhaps even greater than those between two countries. As time has passed, as the people’s living standards have grown and as awareness of personal rights has woken… if the traditional … [Read more...] about The Prospects of Democracy in China
reform
Prices in the Mao era – a peasant's view
The vast majority of Chinese favor and support the "opening up and reform" period started in 1978. But many are also very nostalgic for the Mao era, a time when equality was guaranteed, a time when socialism in China was far more than just a hypothetical. One simple example is translated below. This article has been spread around numerous Chinese forums, actual origin not … [Read more...] about Prices in the Mao era – a peasant's view
Young & Restless in China
With the Olympics only months away, the spotlight is definitely shining on China now. There have been many talks and documentaries on China and Chinese society like we mentioned. Here is another one. PBS's Frontline just released a new documentary called Young & Restless in China, which bills itself as An intimate look into the lives of nine young Chinese, coming of age in … [Read more...] about Young & Restless in China
Chinese opinions of the Internet
While looking into the Pew Global Attitudes Survey (which deserves a blog post of its own), I came across these interesting results highlighted by Pew, with the title 'Few in China Complain About Internet Controls'. This survey was conducted in 2007: Over four years of tracking user reaction, trust in the reliability of online content has fallen by one-half, from 52% in 2003 … [Read more...] about Chinese opinions of the Internet
Beijing considering a Speaker's Corner?
A report out of Hong Kong's Ming Pao newspaper suggests that as a form of political liberalization, Beijing is considering the establishment of a "petitioner's district" zone in Beijing, a free speech zone similar to London's famous Hyde Park. The intent is to manage possible public dissent during the Beijing Olympics. The report (文章, translation below) only mentions an … [Read more...] about Beijing considering a Speaker's Corner?