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1/1/1996 - "Rediscovering China - ""As Long as Books are Opened, Minds will not be Closed""" by Cheng Li

Rediscovering China As Long Books Opened Minds notbe Closed BYCHENG LI SHANGHAI China January Mr Peter Bird Martin ExecutiveDirector Institute ofCurrentWorld Affiars 4WestWheelockStreet Hanover NH03755 DearPeter WhenF Scott Fitzgerald manuscript The Great Gatsby editor attached brief expressing completing My God those chapters lying envelope I I final ICWA letter China During fellowship I written total reports over500pagesandabout 000words I thatmy reporting about China conclusion ThisICWA letter asyouwillfind isbasedontheconcludingreport I presented Members Trustees Meeting In stitute ofCurrentWorld Affairs whichwas inWashingtonD C inDecember AfterourDecembermeeting IflewtoShanghai formywinterva cation At I began academic research project Readers ICWA letters still remember first letter Leaving Home Go Home which I described emotional turmoilconcerningmyoldhome China andnewhome America andasenseofalienationtowardmynativecountry Butas Iamwrit I completely Shanghai I upstate New York Indeed East West havenowcome together asmyonehome This differences differences polit economic structures social values between China UnitedStatesareunimportant Thelonger IstayinChina themore I realizehow deficient Chinese political system andhowthis ficiency affects aspects Chinese society I derstand Wei Jingsheng prominent Chinese dissident prison years recently sentenced another years called fifth modernization democracy country The Chinese government called moder nizations inagriculture industry science andthearmy butWeibelievedthat without fifth modernization other modernizations would ChengLi isanICWAFellowstudyingthepoliticaleconomyofthecoastofChina ultimatelybring trouble Chinese people WhileinChina Iamoftenaskedtocomparethepo liticalsystemsofChinaandtheUS Eachtime Ialways respondbyrepeatingthe storythat IheardfromDan Bell distinguished sociologist Harvard Univer In 1950s Bell young Ph D applied research grant foundation study future United States He interviewed repre sentative foundation asked predict would happen United States 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s It difficult question Bell clever answer Bell representative There presidential election United States there another presidential another Daniel Bell absolutely right Only people democratic countries foresee regularand genuine election Only small number countries world 1950s still relatively small number countries 1990s could predict peaceful transfer ofpowerin their countries Politicalunpredict ability especially crisis associated leadership succession characterizes politics authoritarian tries China My research project focus emerging middle class China protects advances economic interests through political institu tional means My field China during years intimate knowledge country derived experience greatly pursuingthisnewacademic project Inaway thecon clusionofmyICWAfellowship isalsothebeginning thisnewintellectual endeavor I would opportunity thank readers friends their support courage during years I grateful colleagues Hamilton College especially Eugene To formerDean ofFacultyandnowPresident ofthe College encouraging leave absence bridge between classroom teach ingand realworld exploration My friends atHam ilton Mrs Sally Carman Dr Hermine Williams commentedonalmost allofmyICWA lettersthrough airmail across Pacific Words hardly conveymyappreciation Distinguished China experts Michel Oksenberg An Nathan Orvelle Schell Gilbert Rozman pecially mentors Robert Scalapino A Doak Bar Lynn White kindly wrote Their letters reinforcedmybeliefthattheworld ofacademicstudy China should separated world journalistic reporting China I honored graduate seminars atDuke University U C Berke amongmany other schools adopted myICWAlettersascoursematerials Many individuals China contributed inter views information andinspirationformyefforts My reports simply could without I regret I cannot thank Mygratitudeto allofthem however isprofound Finally I would express thanks family Shanghai extended family Institute Current World Affairs Both families shared years effort I share satisfaction My fellowship China lowing report search formyowniden search China I effort rediscover China Sincerely ChengLi Rediscovering China AsLongas Books Opened Minds notbe Closed Transcript ofaSpeechDelivered theMembersand TrusteesMeeting ofthe Institute ofCurrent World Affairs WashingtonD C December Members board trustees distinguished guests andmyfellow Fellows First I would thank Peter nerous introduction I sorry thatmy parents couldn beherethiseveningtohear Mymotherwouldhave believed everyword As Istandhere deliveringmyconcludingreport I The place CL Huahai Road commercial street Shanghai The October This years Mao China The three famine Cultural Revolution started It seventh birthday parents cided birthday After having visited almost stores Huahai Road parents I narrowed options three choices corduroy jacket small transistor radio volume collection ofworld fables children Myfamily Thisphotowastakenin1960whenIwasloutyearsold This isprobablytheearliestmemoryofmychild As Iremember Iwas criticizedbythephotographerfordressingina light colorjacket which differedfromother membersofthefamily Uniformitywas thenormat Allofmyfamilymemberswentthroughgreathardship duringtheyears thatfollowed Myeldestbrother standingin themiddle acollegestudentatFudan University killed theRed Guards during Cultural Revolution Each however different preference My mother wants jacket As youngest family seven children I never jacket always inheriting clothing immediate elder brother I jacket I prefer small radio It would exciting I think revolutionary songs radio My father however prefers books He 1920s child laborer later became successful industrialist Although receive formal schooling understands importance intellectual development As Chinese families father makes final decision During following weeks months I deeply sorbed reading these fascinating fables A young discove entirely world kingdom wisdom These books fables along other books family later burned Red Guards during Cultural Revolution But fondness reading power imagination compre hension derived reading already stilled helped survive traumatized boyhood years When I especially I continued advanced education US twenty years later I realize father actually priceless seventh birthday My lifemighthavebeencompletelydifferent ifmyparents givenme instead ajacket radio Exactly thirty years after I received priceless I received another priceless which profoundly affected If previous lifted horizon world words images symbols recent discover world complexities contradictions constant changes This recent course Fellowship Institute granted during years I parallelsbetween these important gifts Saint Augustine The world andthosewhodonottravelreadonlyapage I privileged opportunity travel throughoutChina Itwasawonderfulfeelingtoturna another another inmyChinabookduring pasttwo years Just would rather jacket radio I first reservations concerning about A Fellow spend minimum years field Two years seemed Institute CurrentWorld Affairs Ourfamilyreunion inShanghaiintheNewYearof1996 Somuchchangehastakenplaceinourfamilyoverthepast threedecades DuringtheCulturalRevolution allofmysiblingswererusticatedtothecountryside indistantplaces Nowtwoofmybrothers includingmyhalfbrother standingin themiddle workasmanagers inState ownedfirms The other brothers large salaries working private sector stock speculator firstleft andtheother secondleft isarepresentativeforPierreCardin Oneofmysisters seatedontheright medicaldoctorinahospital inWujiang TheothersisterandIhaveimmigratedtotheUnitedStates I United States One would probablybegoodforme Icouldputthisfellowshipon resume Who would whether A fellowship would ticket white philanthropist Christian heterosexual elite Sorry Peter course I thought Also Fel supposed pursue academic research write abook This requirement botheredme evenmore requirement As junior college profes I under shadow publish perish I could afford ignore academic research while writingjournalisticreportsfortwoyears This issome thing asking Peter Sampras badminton stead tennis years asking jurors O J trial resist temptation writing Now Ihavecompletedmytwo yearfellowshipin field I fully understand indeed appreciate these specific requirements Institute Fellowship Two years China enough It wasonlylongenoughtomakemerealizehowmuch I about rapidly changing country The CL length opportunity meeting thousands people various walks changedmyperspective foreign visitor local resident Mark Twain absolutely right until visitor becomes impossible accurate understand place people The obligation write monthly reports pushed various aspects Chinese Most issues I studied reported China example surplus rural laborers internal migration entirely overlooked Western study China I probably would never aware these problems I remained ivory tower A friend Cornell University story A graduate returned Alma Mater professor about final introductory course East Asia For curiosity asked professor questions To surprise professor giving taken years Professor asked East Asia changed remarkably during fifteen years Japan hasbecome economic superpower South Ko Taiwan turned liberal democracies China undergone major structural transfor mationinitseconomy Howcanyou stillusethesame questions Oh professor replied questions correct answers differen I whether ajoke story incompetence American studies foreign polit economic systems nothing unusual No field Soviet studies example predicted collapse Communism Western study Chinese politics I believe rapidly approaching allthe accepted clichesaboutChinawillbe outdated For journey across China journey redis covering China This journey however several reasons First I identity I Chinese Iwasreturninghome returning country which I different But living US eight years profoundly changed As I arrived China Ifoundthat IwasmoreAmericanthanChinese China longer China I considered I found myselftoomuchanadopted child liberal cietyto toleratethe neglectofindividualism inmyna Someone The worst world homesickness comes This precisely sadness I experienced Also China national security officers watched closely Although I determined write openlyandhonestlynomatterwhathappened Iwasa concerned about making trouble people I interviewed My problem however I writer block I could sense socio economic changes I witnessed Seldom country revealed itself incredibly contradictions disfigurations scarcely changes unfolded broad breathtaking bizarre today China Shortly I explain these contradictions disfigurations But first I fellowship China taughtme tobeawareofcomplexity tolerantofambi guity anddistrustfulofcertainty Italsomademereal izehoweasy itwouldbeforaforeignvisitor orevena Western China expert travel China weeks write insightful hopelesslywrong Tonight I focus three major Western miscon ceptions about China The first misconception Mao China remained Communist state resist pressure politi reform despite because tremendous progress economic reform This situation according experts unlikely change future The second misconception prediction Chinais thewaytobecomingan economic giantand thereforea threat West particularly United States And third misconception conventional continuation China economic reform evitable because reform brought about greatest developments human welfare Chi history While acknowledging validity these views I believe basically wrong Unfortunately these misleading views strongly influenced general public business people demic studies governmental policies US A critical discussion these three views I disagree China experts country I assess China present China future Let illustrate Western misconception about Communist government China Last February I Australia During I retired Australian bureaucrat Heaskedmewhere Icamefrom Itoldhimthat Igrew China immigrated United States currently China Oh bloody tough under Communists again What think these bloody conservative communists Well I replied I haven Communist during journey across China stead Isawsomanybloodygreedycapitaliststhere I kidding Throughout years China I Communists I iliar I Party CialsinChinawhomIinterviewedoftenidentifythem selves Chairmen Board Trustees I received thousand business cards China Believe identified position Com munist Party although cards listed administrative professional titles Actually I seldom heard Communism mentioned while I China during years except CNNandVOA ItwascrystalcleartomethattheChi Communist Party mandate ological coherence China longer Communist country meaningful sense People West often sharp contrast whencomparingthe former SovietUnionand China collapse ofCommunism former longedcontinuationofCommunisminthe latter But alsobe argued rejection ofCommunismoc curred inChina decade earlierthan collapse ofthe former Soviet Union The stock market notably talist phenomenon played important Chinese economy during reform The Shanghai Stock Exchange whichwas established wasthe first stockexchangeintheworldtobeapproved proclaimed Communist government Indus trial commercial entrepreneurs rural urban areas already formed sizable capitalist classinChina which isinmanywaysmoreactiveand InstituteofCurrentWorld Affairs WithagroupofUigurs innorthernChina Oneofmyregretsduringmyfellowship inChinawas Ididnothavemuch tovisittheregions inwhichminoritynationalities Ihopethatthefuture ChinaFellowofourInstitutewillexplore thisimportantaspectofChinesesociety Readers oftheICWA Lettersmay stillremember series ofreports Iwroteaboutmy tripalongtheYangtzeRive Human LifeandHumanResponsibility AThreeGorgesAd venture IntheseTiesIcriticizedtheChinesegovernmentforitslackofconcernforsafety Three Gorges project other matteTs In letter I story about DongJinjia right oarsman started tourist teenager Several weeks before I China another oarsman I letter tellingmethatJinjiadiedinafireintheSpringof1995 Allthecompanyboatsthat berthed atthewharfwereburnedinafireonawindyevening Jinjiawasdrunkand sleepingiitheboat Thiscouldhavebeenavoided thejunioroarsmanwrote ifourfam ilies reign because project Jinjia could house ifourbosshadanyconcernaboutoursafety CL influential counterparts Eastern Europe former Soviet Union It simplistic entirely wrong Mao China tremendous progress ineconomic reform asmuchin politi reform One cannot really separate economic political change The ongoing urban privati zation example considered economic reform reform brought about fundamen politi changes Chinese society In addition decentral izationofpowerat alllevelsofgovernment riseof technocrats leadership experiment pendent legal system genuine grass local elections important political reforms havebeen taking place China I political changes structive Earlier I suggested large number government officials Communists capitalists bureaucratic capitalists During mystayinChina Iwasamazedbytherampancyofof ficia corruption Let share which lately spread throughout China It If arrest police chiefs China wrong innocent chief arrest every other police chief definitely guilty chiefs escape unpunished Before I US corruption China petty bribery hundred dollars cials steal several milli several hundred millions Some leaders claim start corruption campaigns But those punished usually medium level govern officialsandjuniormilitaryofficers There saying Shanghai reflecting hypocrisyand problem governmental corruption campaigns The saying Abig embezzler gives tureongovernmentalanti corruption campaigns sizedembezzlerlistenstothe lecture onlya small embezzler If ranking officials everpunished theywerepunishednotbecause their crimes because power struggle within thegovernment This irony hypocrisy within Communist State strong implications assessment China Chinese leaders cannot continue identify themselves Communist while enthusiastically bracing capitalism The current Chinese government extremely unpopular surely faced challenges years I suspect Chinese leaders particularly uneasy about pened recently South Korea Nicholas Kristof New York Times correspondent recently observed South Korean suggests people lenient toward corrupt leaders preside aboomingeconomy But surprise American China experts afteraweek visitto Beijing camebackandmade kinds positive comments about China political situation One their predictions really surprised statement China Deng leadership succession already completed Jiang Zemin control I impression duringmystayinChina eveninShanghai which power Instead I heard numerous jokes about other Chinese leaders Jiang currently holds highest posts Party government Probably immediately these positions Deng But question Howlon remain power Once Chengdu driver I discussed current leaders For these leaders enough ceedDeng He LiPeng heart Jiang Zemin brain I remark about Chinese leaders couple ofdecades hewouldbe injail Yes plied jokingly That information State secret notnow Jiang Zemin respect people because accomplished anythinggood country The thing Shanghai banthe sliberalnewspaperduringthe1989demo cratic movement He recently purged corrupt Beijing municipal leaders think cause hewanted political enemies This action actually caused resentment among provincial leaders If American China experts continue optimistic about leadership succession political system country another shock similar mention 1970s Now letmeturn thesecondmajormisconception China West prediction China thewaytobecoming economic giant therefore threat West particularly United States There doubt China economic development during decade remarkable As I lived Shanghai literally earth developers ripped street after street The nessed skyscrapers rising ground property during years Not Shanghai virtually major cities engaged people construction fever Not cities rural areas coastal China transformed towns result China rural industrial revolution I think reporter The Wall Street Journal entirely exaggerating wrote What Shanghai China coast mightbe biggest construction project planet since coral polyps built Great Barrier after Ice Age Never history people economic progress single generation dents coastal China Some become incredibly InstituteofCurrentWorld Affairs These people called translated money During pasttwoyears Imetseveraldozenrich ruralindustri alists visited their homes listened their Almost every I I listening Chinese Carnegie Rockefeller In recent ICWA report Who Created China Economic Miracle which probably I introduced Mr Chen peasant turned industrialist southernJiangsu For first thirty years Mr Chen family lived straw Now three story mansion I mansion because rooms number This mansion three dining rooms banquet ballroom accommodate people Mr Chen during years manufacturing fiber glass construction material great demand country By Mr Chen coming US attend Congressional Prayer Breakfast February which President Clinton Here I would liketothankCarolHamrin US StateDepartment today making possible indeed foraddingevenmoredramatoMr Chen I visited Mr Chen house number times partner Goldman Sachs The American nessman asked three times Is private house When assured That Chinese enough senior partner Goldman Sachs I asked local official whether richest person No officialtoldme isnotevenlistedamong hundred richest people county Is right I I amazed I asked question three times Mr Chen story means unusual coastal China Yet I wrong impression significant portion Chinese population wealthy Mr Chen future As I traveled across China especially northwestern central China I strong impression China remain country decades Let clear Living standards improved these remote areas There hunger starvation which common during Mao which still exist other countries Africa Asia When reform started China nomic condition extremely backward Today stillbackwardintermsofGNPpercapita Itisimpor tanttoknowthat iftheUSincreasesonepercentin GNP capita income US increase Bycontrast ifChina sGNPincreases10percent capitaincome inChina willincrease Is ittruthormyththatChina isbecominganeweco nomic giant My answer truth China coastal already become CL nomic powerhouse world But whole China remain country decades China probably always nation faces China economic progress itsbackwardness Recently country heard cussion about China threat argument containing China For people China replacing former Soviet Union becoming US The Russian being replaced dangerous Chinese dragon Will China become threat US My answer question No number reasons Both Chinese government people especially entrepreneurs Mr Chen peaceful cooperative international environment which conducive continuing economic growth It Chinese nationalism rising necessarily China intends aggressive combative stand toward US A radical xenophobic foreign policy probably quires radical charismatic leader I leader foreseeable future As other countries Chinese leadership consists doves hawks It reported hardliners Chinese military becoming increasingly fluential decision making circles But I doubt receive support other elites people At present Chinese moodtomakemoney tomake enemies Sino US relations obviously shape The US critical China tough positions garding Taiwan South China Sea nuclear proliferation repression politi ssidents human rights violations The US criticism inmyview isjustified ButtheChinesegov ernment valid concerns Look today world How governments really willing territory claim China certainly country engaged nuclear liferation The Chinese govern sensitive political dissidents because cannot afford anotherTiananmen protest I US should avoid discuss these issues Chinese The US should Chinese leaders respect human rights international important But US should through dialogue privately publicly through efforts contain China Containment change these situations It Chinese hardlinersjustify their actions Also US should isolationist position withdrawing involvement East SoutheastAsia This isnotonlybecausetheUShastre mendous economic interests region especially China mainly because China economic condition social stability Chinese issues WithagroupofVietnameseconstructionworkers inasuburbofHanoi Duringmyfellowship IhadthechancetovisitVietnam thecountrythatexperiencedtwovicious inrecenthistory firstagainst theAmericansandthen theChinese Duringmyvisit Iwasstruck friendliness kindness Vietnamese people When I shared impression Americanfriend He toldmea about PresidentRonald Reagan Inthemid 1980s ReaganvisitedtheSovietUnion Allofasudden inReagan seyes evilem nolonger existed Hefound theRussians laughed cried werehuman beings AnAmerican journalistaskedhim Mr President doyou think ifyouhadvisitedtheSovietUnion tenyearsago twentyyearsago youprobablywouldfeelthesameway theRussianslaughed cried andarehu manbeings No Reaganreplied Theyhavechanged Today forsomeAmericans China isreplacingtheformerSovietUnionandbecomingthemainen US The Russian being replaced dangerous Chinese dragon Our mediaseemtobemoreinterestedinportrayingtheChinesewhoeatdogmeat killbabygirlsandabuse handicappedorphans thanprovidingamorecomprehensiveperspectiveofChinaandtheChinese andshouldbe globalconcerns China sneighbors thisaswell Whenmyrelativesandoldfriendscom entire world community share plained I always asked Are better China experiences chaos The danger US China during reform But I relations I believe China asked former school classmate threat failure understand sponded question He tradictionsandcomplexitiesinvolvedintheon going thatalthoughhisstandardoflivinghadimproved transformationinChina missedtheolddaysunderMao poorer butsim equal My worked State Thisleadsmetomythirdandfinalpoint theWest ownedenterpriseandearned400yuan U S misconception continuation China month But overseas Chinese observed nomic reform inevitable because according guide takes American tourists reform brought about greatest outing Shanghai US dollars velopmentsinhumanwelfareinChinesehistory intips Comparetheirincomes 47permonthver WhenIstartedmyfellowshipinChina Ithought disparitybetweendifferentsectorsinShanghai Institute ofCurrentWorldAffairs Myformerclassmate iscertainlyright lifewasmuch simpler China reform programs targeted solving problems socialism these solutions becoming problems Earlier I described property coastal China This development attracted foreign capital ulated local economic growth But alsobe destructive force isundermin cultural fabric causing tremendous disruption local residents misusing precious arable In United States usually takes several decades large numbers residents suburbs But months weeks Shanghai households downtown Most residential areas located bleak suburbs where there hospi schools grocery markets People resent against government widespread People complain local governments interested building fancy hotels office buildings luxurious villas nightclubs expensive department stores courses building needed roads schools andhomes forlowincome families Thestoresinwhichmyparentsand Ididmybirth shopping years changed The store thatsoldchildren sjackets isnowanAmerican owned restaurant called California Rainbow The radio store hasbeen torndownandisnowa floor elegant department store selling imported brand Gucci Calvin Klein bikinis The bookstoreinwhichmyparentsboughtmethe seriesof world fables still called bookstore sells sette tapes popular music Karaoke CDs other products I asked young assistant store books called bookstore The assistant pointed counter store there fewIBMnotebooks Don tyouknowthis telecommunication The young assistant started givemea lecture Socio economic changes greatly affected people I known My school teacher dedicatedand greatly respected educator signed school became stock broker He explained I almost sixty The pension I receive enough support The ernmentis likelytostopprovidingmedicalinsurance I survive I prised thatagoodfriend ofminein college straight A woman student majoring French Russian litera became professional people China Oriental Hollywood Heidi Her however istointroduceRussiangirls whoareall Thisphotowas taken notduringtheCulturalRevolution thefallof1994 Thereareanum berofrestaurants BeijingthataredecoratedwithMao portraitsandCulturalRevolution Theserestaurantsareusuallyve popularamongBeijingresidents We really nostalgic about there never middle agedmanwithwhomItalkedintherestaurantcalledBlackEarth But lifewasmuchsim olddays continued We towomyabout thefuture because thefuture wouldbe thesameforeveryone Butnow Idon tknowwhere Iwillwork thenextmonthandhow salary It however earns twenty I CL Dr PhillipsTalbot aformerICWAfellowandformerUSambassadortoGreece visitedmeinShanghaiduringthe summerof1995 Aswewalkedalong thefamousbundandpassedby themansions built ofthecentury Dr Talbot toldmethathewasjustasamazedat thedynamismofShanghaitodayashewas56yearsago Asayoung ICWAfellowwhowason hisway toIndia hepassedthrough thecityin HefoundthatShanghaiwas livelyand dynamic despitethefactthat itwasoccupiedbytheJapanese DidyouanticipatetheeventsthathavehappenedinChinasinceyourfirstvisit theeventssuchasthecivilwar between Nationalistsand Communists Iasked No Nobody could predict imagine What would happen China during centmy Dr Talbot replied Fewcountrieshavehadamoreturbulentanddramatichistotduringthepasthalfcentmythan China Eachofthe remarkable events Civil Win Communist Triumph Great Leap Forward Cultural Revolution Post MaoReform theTiananmenRally andtheEconomicBoom allchangedthecountryinap rofoundway Similarly Idon tthinkwecanpredictwhatwillhappeninChinaduringthenexthalfcentury Dr Talbotsaid thoughyoumaybesuresomethingimportant isgoingtotakeplace thiscountryin thenearfuture Neither ofuswantedtopredictanythingbutchange theonlythingthatisalwayscertainischange called Natasha torichandpowerfulChinesemen surplusrurallaborers Twohundredmillionsurplusru laborers This equal population Migrant workers largest social group Mexicos eight Canadas The issue surplus rural causeing drastic change Chinese society Most laborers course What moving rural inland regions urban coastal those surplus farmers Asweallknow Chinaaccountsfor22percentof choosingtomove InFebruaryoflastyear Itooka world population percent train Hefei Anhui Shanghai It after world arable The arable China Spri Festival important holiday arable US number China The train crowded migrant laborers rural laborers times US A tremen returning cities There number rural laborers China surplus absolutely space stand train I becauseofthelackofarableland agriculturalmod movedmyleg Icouldnotfindaplacetoputitdown ernization privatization farming Migrant workers become ItisbelievedthatChinanowhasabout200million nerablegroupsinChina Nomedicalcare nohealthin InstituteofCurrentWorldAffairs surance noworkcontracts welfare benefits manent residence permits workplace safety virtually nothing little money migrantworkerwhomImetinWenzhou acityonthe southeastcoast Ivisitedthis citywithJoeKahn Wall Street Journal correspondent Shanghai Wenzhou considered breeding ground Chin capital during reform The attracted large numberofmigrantswhousuallyworkinshoefactories Atypicalshoe factory actuallynomorethanan shabby house where several hundred laborers crowd along assembly Usually there enough light onlybecause there fewwindows toreduce electricity costs What struckmemost awful smell caused chemical glues other materials These migrant workers forlonghoursinaheavilypollutedenvironment When started interview workers middle agedwomanwho looked manager appeared leave We We whether workers problems working conditions She responded Iftheyhave problems My workers shouldbe grateful toworkhere Go thejobless labor markets laodongli shichang willunderstandwhat Imean I reminded labor markets This memorable indeed miserable scenes I while China In virtually every large medium sized I visited pasttwoyears therewere places inwhichhun dreds ofyoung adults bothmenandwomen mostof their twenties waited hours hoping picked anyone could offer temporary hourly These labormarkets arelocatedonbusy streets inthepla ports railway stations construc sites andin front factories OnmytaxiridetotheWenzhouAirport Isawala market which about three hundred jobless Commercialism money worship characterized cultural environment Shanghai today Thirtyyearsago peopletalkedabout revolution classstruggle correctconsciousness polit campaign Now popular topics stock market commission mahjong Karaoke Butnoteveryoneworshipsmoney justas noteveryoneworshippedMao threedecadesago InMar agroupofAmericanfriendsand IvisitedtheShanghaiConservatoryofMusicwhereweattended therehearsalofaWesternoperaperformedby thestudents Duringthetwo hourlongrehearsal wewere greatlyimpressedbyboth talentandthededication oftheseyoungmenandwomen Theycouldhave amuchbetterlife materialistically iftheychosetobecomepopularmusicstars IamnotafanofWesternoperaorclassicalmusic becauseIwasnotexposed tothemduringmychild But I understand enlightenment Western opera classic musical otherforms ofart bring people Itookthisphotoaswedepartedfromtherehearsalroom Seeingthesededicatedyoungstudentsand theirteachers IfeltmoreoptimisticaboutChina sfuture CL grants gathered It already afternoon waiting there since early One could easily sense their frustrationby looking their faces As passed I suddenly middle manager factory meant about justification capitalist ploitation butironically whytheChinesepeopleen thusiastically embraced socialism century I realize inevitable China program proceed begun Inconclusion Iwanttothankyouagainforthe lowship thepricelessgiftthatyougrantedme Ithas beenafascinatingjourneyforme atimetolaugh wonder The someone To share thoughts istherefore tosharemyjourney During XINJIANG QINGHAI XIZANG thepasttwoyears Inever Iwastravelingalone Peter other members ofICWA always sharing journey giving support encouragement This evening tribute tonight shared myjourney I thatmypersonalobservationsand storiesgivea humanistic expression China shard The China I rediscovered country change irony indeed tradiction It intention predict China future rejec three Western misconceptions gives sessment China progress problems prospects China isinatimeofgreatchangeandhasalwaysbeen changing Asa college professorwhoteachesthenext generation American students international fairs I remind myself As books opened minds notbe closed HEILONGJIANG NEIMONGOL HUBEI SICHUAN HUNAN GUIZHOU YUNNAN GUANGXI GUANGDONG CHINA TITLES OF ICWA LETTERS FROM CHINA BY THE AUTHOR CL LEAVINGHOMETOGOHOME CL THECOLOROFMONEY SHANGHAIIMPRESSIONS CL CHINA SFALSITIES CHINA SFUTURE Part CallingThingsbyTheirRealNames Part II Daxing AMostFrequentlyUsedIdiominShanghai Part III PoliticalForecast ALittleKnowledge IsADangerousThing CL CHINA S YUPPIECORPS Part ConversationwithAChineseTechnocrat Part IICollegeNetworksofthe BestandtheBrightest CL THEYINANDYANGOFEASTASIA Part East A Threat CL TIDALWAVEOFMIGRANTWORKERSINCHINA Part 94ers Eastward Ho Part II 200MillionMouthsTooMany CL THEYINANDYANGOFEASTASIA Part IITheMeetingofEastandWest Part IIITechno Nationalismvs Techno Globalism EastAsiainSearchofaNew Vision Century CL HUMANLIFE HUMANRESPONSIBILITY ATHREEGORGESADVENTURE Part TheFirstImpression sALastingImpression Part II Gorgeous Gorges Part III DamnDam CL UNDERNEONLIGHTS STREETPEOPLEINSHANGHAI CL SUNAN WHERETHERURALINDUSTRIALREVOLUTIONCHANGESCHINA S LANDSCAPE Part Sunan Miracle Seeing Believing Part II ANewForceSuddenlyCorningtotheFore Part IIIZhangjiagang ANewbornCity AModelofChina sUrbanization PartIVHuaxiVillage A Mini Singapore China CL SHANGHAISURPRISES UNLESSWEBEHOLDWECANNOTUNDERSTAND CL ONTHEROADTOSUBEhTRANSPORTATIONBOTTLENECKINCHINA S CL DEVELOPMENTVISITINGANSOEANDCLAIMINGANIOU CL WHOCREATEDCHINA sECONOMICMIRACLE MEETINGWITHCHENJINHAI APEASANT TURNED I NDUSTRIALIST CL TOLIVEISNOTTOBREATHE ITISTOACT DAIQINGANDHERNOTIONOFACHINESEINTELLECTUAL CL SHANGHAI CITYFORSALE Part I LandLeasingandForeignInvestmentinChina sLargestCity PartIh ConstructionFever Relocationphobia ofUrbanResidents CL BACKTOTHEPAST Part ChinaontheEveofaCapitalistTakeover Part Ih Can Caopitalism Solve China Problems CL REDISCOVERINGCHINA As asBooks Opened Mindswill notbe Closed CL Hisham Ahmed Born blind Palestinian Dheisheh Refugee Camp Bethlehem Hisham finished A levels fifth highest score students throughout Israel He received B A political science scholarship Illinois State University M A Ph D University California Santa Bar Back East Jerusalem still blind Hisham plans gather histories broad selection Pales tinians produce Portrait Palestine crucial point Middle Eastern history MIDEAST N AFRICA Adam Albion A former research associate Institute EastWest Studies Prague Czech Republic Adam spending years studying writing about Turkey regional growing importance actor Balkans Middle East former Soviet A Harvard graduate History Adam pleted first M Litt degree Russian East European history languages Oxford Univer EUROPE RUSSIA Cynthia Caron With Masters degree Forest Science Yale School Forestry Environmental Stud Cynthia spending years South Asia ICWA first John Miller Musser Memorial Forest Society Fel She studying writing about impact forest preservation projects lives tenure digenous peoples local farmers their fringes Her fellowship includes stays Bhutan India Sri Lanka SOUTH ASIA Forest Society William F Foote Formerly financial analyst Lehman Brothers Emerging Markets Group Willy Foote amining economic substructure Mexico impact market reforms Mexico people society politics Willy holds Bachelor degree Yale University history Master London School Economics Development Economics Latin America studied Basque history San Sebastian Spain He intensive Spanish language studies Guatemala worked editor Reporter fortheBuenosAires Heraldfrom1990to THEAMERICAS Cheng Li An Assistant Professor Government Hamilton College Clinton NY Cheng Li studying growth technocracy impact economy southeastern coast China He began academic earning Medical Degree Jing An Medical School Shanghai graduate Asian Studies Political Science United States M A Berkeley Ph D Pri nceton EAST ASIA Sharon Griffin A feature writer contributing columnist African affairs San Diego Union Tribune Sharon spending years southern Africa studying Zulu KwaZulu kingdom writing about nongovernmental organizations fulfillment centers national needs developing countries where govern ments still feeling their toward effective administration She plans travel Namibia Zim babwe South Africa SAHARA PramilaJayapal Born India Pramilaleftwhenshewasfourandwentthroughprimaryandsecondaryeducation Indonesia She graduated Georgetown University M B A Kellogg School Management Evanston Illinois She worked corporate analyst PaineWebber counts manager world leading producer cardiac defibrillators recently managed million developing country revolving Program App ropriate Technology Health PATH Seattle Pramila spending years India tracing roots studying social issues involving religion status women population AIDS SOUTH ASIA TeresaC Yatea AformermemberoftheAmerican Civil Liberties Union nationaltaskforceontheworkplace Te spending years South Africa observing reporting efforts Mandela government formthe national tenuresystem AVassargraduatewithajurisdoctorfromthe University ofCincinnatiCollege Law Teresa internship Centre Applied Legal Studies Johannesburg feasibility including social economic rights South African constitution While ACLU shealsoconductedaSeminaronWomenintheLawatFordhamLawSchoolinNewYork SAHARA Author InstituteofCurrentWorldAffairs Title ICWA Letters East Asia ISSN Imprint Hanover NH Material Type Serial Language English Frequency Monthly O Regions South Asia Mideast North Africa Europe Russia SubSaharan Africa The Americas Chosen basis character previous perience promise Institute Fellows young professionals funded spend years carrying designed programs study writing outside United States The Fellows required their findings experiences field month They write subject formally informally The result unique report analysis periodical assessment ternational events issues The Institute ofCurrentWorld Affairs 4WEST WHEELOCKSTREET HANOVER NEWHAMPSHIRE 03755 ADDRESSCORRECTION REQUESTED Nonprofit Org U S Postage PAID Lebanon NH 03766 Permit