Session #1 - February 26

[Judy Schechter]

Chris--You might be interested in using the charts/graphics found in today's NY Times article "China Isn't Having Enough Babies" in your World History class.  Here's the link:

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/02/26/opinion/china-isnt-having-enough-babies.html?action=click&module=Opinion&pgtype=Homepage

 

[Paul Phillips]

1. Water - In my initial “Intro to China”, discussion, I show 9th grade students annual rainfall and temperature range maps of China and ask them where they would establish a civilization if they had the choice. Invariably they select the south-east. We then read a few sources about the destructive power of the Hwang He. I then ask my students, “Why was Northern China the cradle of its civilization”, when temperatures are more extreme, annual rainfall is lower and the Hwang He is so dangerous? I’m also interested in exploring the strategic importance of Tibet, as a guaranteed source of water, as a buffer zone and as a safety-valve for the Han population. I'd also like to have students compare the context and uses of major pubic works projects such as the Grand Canal, the Three Gorges Dam and the South-North Canal.
2. One Child Policy - I would like to further explore the severe social challenges stemming from the traditional chinese preference for male children (interesting reference to having a female child is like preparing someone else’s field). My question is; “has the expiration of the One Child Policy in 2016 reduced the gender imbalance or is it exacerbating it?” Are women being re-valued or do they remain de-valued in Chinese society?
3. Hukou System - I’d be interested in having students research the similarities and differences between Chinese internal migration and guest worker practices in other societies (The Bracero Program in the US, Turkish guest workers in Germany during the Cold War or South Asian guest workers in the UAE). In particular, living conditions (e.g. dormitory style accommodation), access to political representation (given limited or no citizenship rights), and the significance of remittances back to the home village or country of origin.

 

[Matthew Livers]

The Hukou administrative system was very interesting to read about especially how it is very applicable to social/political developments in China today. Registering house holds for political gain makes total sense for a communist or authoritarian form of government. Chan refers to how the Hukou system in the past was mainly used to track down antigovernment elements. For a political system that is looking to monitor the behavior or ideas of its citizens, the Hukou system is ideal. There are several reasons as to why this administrative system would be helpful to the government of China today. With the influx of citizens from the rural areas of China seeking more work and migrating to the urban exterior of the country, this system would be very helpful. I also find it very interesting that China is taking the idea of the Hukou administrative system to a new technological level with monitoring the behavior of its citizens. The promotion of positive citizen behavior with various rewards by the Chinese government as well as the repercussions of negative behavior of citizens connects to the historical Hukou system of monitoring citizen’s movements and behaviors.

[Chris Hertzog]

Thanks!  I will grab some from there.

[Chris Hertzog]

Wow!  Right around the corner, that is pretty clever.

[Cheryl Watson]

China has advanced technologically, as well as economically, but with advancements in biometrics, it is easier to keep tabs on its citizens and protests which might spread on line quickly.  Identifying and attaching awards or punishments to one's online exchanges makes it easier for the CCP to identify sabotage among its citizens.

 

[Cheryl Watson]

Japan has found a way to temporarily resolve its rising aging population and declining birth rate by using robots and migrants from other countries.

China may look to places such as southeast Asia and Africa to invite or entice a service industry workforce for this challenge.

 

[Brett Kier]

"It has always fascinated me how the Chinese have stayed relatively stationary as an empire, country or nation.  It seems that through much of their history they stayed in the lands of “China” and did not set out to build an empire on distant lands like other groups (Mongols, Ottomans, Spanish, British) but remained in their heartland from the Qin until now.  But in staying in these lands they have looked to harness the lands, the water, the resources to make it work for China."

You echo an astute observation that was made by Henry Kissinger. China's method of expanding its influence has been nothing like that of Britain or the US. Also, regarding sunseting of the one-child policy, it would be very interesting to witness the kind of reform movement akin to Ataturk's in Turkey, expanding the status of women in the country. It seems unlikely now, but putting more control into the hands of families and women, as far as reproductive decisions are concerned, will at some point act as the thin edge of the wedge.

[Cheryl Watson]

I could use this article to consider and discuss how low birth rates and aging populations affect migration patterns amongst immigrants.

One could compare and contrast, using a Venn Diagram, migration patterns of southeast Asian populations who migrate to China, dis aggregated according to education, age, and socio economic status, with that of Central and South American peoples who migrate to the United States.

[Chris Hertzog]

Brett brings up some great topics for discussion... and a great idea on a socratic seminar.  There is so much in the article and along with the all the recent event that would stimulate a great conversation from students.  Ya, I hear that phrase, or something like it quite often, "They hate us because our freedom."

Getting students to ask questions about what China is really doing for themselves as opposed to against someone us or someone else would be a good conversation.  Also bringing up topics like the Marshall Plan or Dawes or even asking students to ponder how the biggest communist system has embraced many economic ideals that look at times quite capitalist, that of couse involves a police state.  It is a time in history that we may need to look for new categories to explain what this new China system is.  Stalin like yes, but with U.S. and international companies welcome in the borders.  The Ming Dynasty chose not to trade with the outside world except by specific exports, Qing try to keep it contained to certain areas and then colonization takes over.  What do we see in Jinping's redifining the rules and the past choices in what is taking place now... or as it were, a world where China makes the rules on foreign powers instead of the other way around.

I think students today are very interested in all of this.

[Paul Phillips]

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-47352657

[Margaret Siryj]

The video clip from "60 minutes" newsbroadcast aired this past Sunday.  China is aiming for 1 million electric cars this year and this nation is on track to reach its target.  China is quickly pacing itself against the United States and hopes to have 50% of all vehicles on their roads to be measured in torque which is how electric is quoted versus horsepower like gasoline engines are calibrated.  Take into consideration that Trump has threatened to decrease subsidizing electric cars.  Dr. Dube brought up a great point, China has a tremendous air pollution problem that it is fiercely attempting to quell.  I took my seniors to Rio Hondo Community College to show them Tesla, who by the way is the one of two community colleges in the US to have a deal with the car company.  Tesla's motto is "Blue Sky Coming" and they currently, along with the government give $10,000 rebate when you purchase one of their cars.  Looks like China may be a bit more serious about the electric future than the US.  

[Phillip Moshoyannis]

Interesting article about Xi and the Communist Party.

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/02/25/world/asia/china-xi-warnings.html?emc=edit_th_190226&nl=todaysheadlines&nlid=680544960226

[clay dube]

One of the ideas that the Chinese like to share about themselves is that they aren't an expansion-oriented power. I don't think that's quite correct. China hasn't, it is true, sought to extend its land holdings since 1949 (or at least not much - tensions and occasional shooting still happens along the border with India). But it's worthwhile to note that the boundaries of today's China weren't the boundaries in 1600. During the 17th century, the Manchu's conquered China and then extended the area under Beijing's control dramatically. Tibet, Xinjiang, and Taiwan were roped in. And, of course, the Manchu homeland and Mongolia was included. The Soviet Union split off Mongolia in the 1920s, but except for Taiwan, Beijing controls most of its Manchu inheritance. Of course, in recent years, China has built on an earlier claim by the Republic of China to most of the South China Sea. It would not call this expansionist, rather Beijing describes it as merely asserting historical rights. A UN arbitration court in 2016, however, rejected the historical claims put forward by Beijing. Great powers, including the US, tend to extend their economic links and then seek to defend them. We've seen some of this from China in Pakistan and Afghanistan and, of course, the American examples are quite numerous.

[clay dube]

Yes, there are many Confucius Institutes. Here's a recent US government study of the agreements establishing the institutes: https://china.usc.edu/us-government-accountability-office-agreements-establishing-confucius-institutes-us-universities-are

Scroll to the bottom to download the full report.

We've often discussed them:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iIbAUUR07xg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v-ha6sOUIEY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C6IChJN5jgo 

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