August 24, 2005
"The Chinese"
I have never blogged before in my life; that's right, not once. While I respect the blog's un-edited, free-flowing, un-cut characteristics, I simultaneously fear the way it tempts one to ramble without end as well as its lack of spellcheck (I will preemptively label all errors as "typos")! So, here is a ramble...
Really, there is just one idea that I wanted to put down somewhere, before it runs out of my head. I have just spent a year living (as well as studying, researching, traveling, etc.) in China. I like to believe that having been there gives me some greater insight into the people, culture, etc.; although, I am by no means as dogmatic about this point, but there are some who see having been to a place (or understanding its language) as an ABSOLUTE prerequisite for knowing ANYTHING about the country. One problem with such an assertion is how you would define these things: Does visting a place for a week qualify you to then have an opinion about it, or do you need three years? What if those three years were spent at Western-style bars eating pizza and drinking Budweiser? What if you can read the language but not speak or understand it? etc. Another problem is that I think by reading things, talking to people, etc. you can learn a hell of a lot about a topic. If I were to sit down for 2 months and read 8 books and 25 articles about Malaysian politics, I think that I should probably be able to formulate some fairly reasonable, well-grounded opinions on that topic. I mean, look at Daniel Widome -- he writes intelligently about everything! How many stamps are on your passport, Daniel?
That being said, when possible, I still do like to use some of my own experiences in China to think about larger theoretical issues or questions (and to keep them fresh in my head for cocktail party conversations).
I have been reading (again) a whole bunch about democracy in China and just read Daniel Widome's piece in the ProJo about the vilification of China -- two closely-linked topics. If China were more democratic and less authoritarian, Americans would probably (rightly or not) fear it far less. So, what are the chances for democracy?
I will only submit a miniscule piece of evidence into a sub-question in this incredibly large, complex, monster of a question. Many claim that Chinese or Confucian culture causes people to be more accepting of authority, less likely to question it, a willingness to just accept hardship or "eat bitterness", etc. Contradictory examples are everywhere. My own personal one is being at a Shanghai airport (there are now two), where I was scheduled to take a 10am flight to Beijing. The flight had been delayed and they were not sure exactly when it would take-off (fairly routine everywhere). The reaction, in my opinion, was not so routine. The Chinese passangers were not waiting patiently, twiddling their thumbs and saying "Oh darn." They were standing and screaming at the poor man staffing the boarding gate and demanding to see the manager. They were demanding refunds, as well as free food and drink vouchers; they were speaking of how they had a right to an answer of when the flight would leave, speaking of being abused by the airline; etc. Their reaction was intense. One man had just purchased the ticket; in fact, the airline still sold him a 10am ticket after they themselves knew the flight was delayed. The man almost had tears in his eyes and I wondered if security should be called before he attacked the manager. Several months before, a very similar thing happened in a Yunnan airport. The ferver of the passangers made a signficant impression on me.
Is this at all relevant? One could, of course, question if this really qualified as "authority," whether this willingness to protect their economic rights is also true of their political rights, and also an apt question, whether the citizens of ultra-modern Shanghai are at all represntative of the rest of China (where a majority are still peasants).
I think the event is still significant. My focus is not on the content of the passangers' claim or "right" (economic or political, rational or not) but the fervor with which they demanded it. Further, peasants all over China can be seen protesting the government about confiscated land, being laid-off or over-zealous enforcement of the one-child policy.
I could go on, but have gone on too long already. My point in a sentence:
The Chinese are certainly capable of having sentiments of entitlement to political rights and if they are infringed, purusing them with great fervor.
Of course, I am not, by any means, claiming that democracy is around the corner. Far from it. However, I think the merit of the cultural, Confucian argument is limited.
...that was kind of fun, maybe I'll blog again sometime.
Posted by Aaron Halegua at August 24, 2005 01:27 AM
