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Home › Forums › Short Online Seminars › Contemporary China, Spring 2021 › Session #4 - February 23
Jonathan Alami.
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Readings
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4a. Generations
For this lecture, there's a point where we pause so that you can read two sections of this attached file "24 Filial Piety Exemplars"
4b. Environmental Degradation
The second lecture for week 4 focuses on China's serious environmental challenges.
OPTIONAL
Gisela GaonaA reoccuring theme that seems to be highlighted throughout my course of study of history, is that citizens are always the least enfranchised in the decision making, while also being the most affected. This is no exception when it comes to China's Family Planning Policy. Although China abandoned the 1 child policy in 2015, it still reverbates to to this day. China's population like that of the West, is an aging one. Many issues arise with an imbalance of age groups. One of the articles stated that in one province alone there were 100,000 elderly parents to left behind to care for themselves. Due to sex-selective abortions and infanticide, China today is forced to reckon with a reality where men starkly outnumber women. What is more, as the market economy opens up these young men have left the countryside (and with it their parents) to seek higher paying jobs in the city, or even in the West. As a result, neighbors, fellow elderly people and other folks from the community are left to play the role that is traditionally assigned to children.
As China's economy and culture become more enmeshed with Western practices, thing such as retirement homes now exist in China. This is a major paradigm shift for the Chinese culture as this creation essentially signals the end of the longstsanding practice of "filial piety". According to this philosophy, it is shameful and dishonorable to not look after one's parents in their old age. Chinese culture is ripe with stories from antiquity that are exemplars for what sacrifice of the self looks in for the sake of their parents. I am interested to see how these two conflicting ideals continue to develop and converge to create a new face of China.
Mossy KennedyMy understanding of Chinese culture has been that the elderly are respected and enjoy positions of status. So I was surprised to encounter the guidelines for the treatment of the elderly. Not what I was expecting. But thinking about the guidelines, I realized they were important markers in a shifting society. They betray the fact that they are necessary. Such things did not need to be articulated in an earlier era. The fact that they need to be spelled out hint at an attempt to hold on to earlier value.
Attempts to control the energy of youth also caught my attention. Not so much the timeless tension between youth and age, rather, how the vibrancy of youth that once drove the Communist Revolution now has boundaries placed upon it. The irony of how a quality once so integral to the inception of the modern state, now is being contained. Rather than being understood it is seen as a threat.
I was particularly interested in learning about environmental concerns in contemporary China. There were a number of revelations in this section for me. The details of the scale of photovoltaic production and use was inspiring. The production and use of electric vehicles was noteworthy. The extent of planting to reduce urban heat islands was impressive. These were things I was unaware of prior to this unit and they added to my understanding of contemporary China. I appreciated how the extensive pollution produced in the economic miracle generated an existential threat to the country. Without access to clean, safe food and water the miracle imploded. In this process China became less of an anomaly for me and my conception of the country fell in line with many other countries. A collection of countries unified in addressing the contemporary challenges of the environment. I was reassured to encounter the progress being made in China. It was not possible to overlook the environmental degradation. They are adapting and evolving.
Jeanine AlexanderIt will be interesting to see the progression of China’s demographics over the next 20 years. I was surprised by the amount of materialism in China. It reminds me of the United States in the 1980s (though Americans are very materialistic too) with the increase of the YUPPIE culture. It appears the youth of China are falling into that trap too. The relationships with the family are also unexpected with the changes due to the changes in movement to urban areas and the rise of materialism. I was surprised at how the mother/daughter relationship has been affected by this movement and increase in materialism.
I honestly feel the environmental crisis in China became more apparent to Americans and the rest of the world during the 2008 Beijing Olympics. However, I had no idea of the amount of people dying from environmental causes- it is devastating. Unfortunately, once the games were over people went on with their lives and tended to forget. The increase in devasting weather due to climate change may wake up the world (we can only hope).
Right now, China (and other environmentally ‘poor’ nations) reminds me of the United States in the late 19th-early 20th century and the fact it took the US until the 1970s to try to make corrections makes me fearful of the world right now. We cannot wait for China and others to clean up the way they do things…but then again, the US needs to continue to work towards clean living (unfortunately the pandemic is making this harder). It was a good surprise to see that China has adopted solar power and other clean fuel. With China being a water ‘poor’ country, I would expect an increase in technological innovation such as desalination plants with the coastal areas? It will be interesting to see how the canal system will affect the overall environment of China.
Thank you for ending your lecture on a positive note, the information was getting really depressing…
Johnny WalkerInterestingly enough, I can't help but feel that the age-old Marxist critiques of industrial capitalism concerning an erosion and poisoning of communal social norms as well as environmental disasters apply to 21st century China as much as 19th century western Europe. The use of historical maps reflecting CO2 emmissions and charts that follow raw material consumption place China on a time line just behind the United States and the European Union. Yet, as the charts that demonstrate China's committment and investment in hydroelectric, solar, and wind energy as well as electric vehicle manufacturing, places them in the vanguard of the world's nations who are now somewhat reconciling and tackling the environmental and energy crises that pose existential threats to us all.
I appreciate that the discussion of social changes, adaptations and crises of family and social relationships due to materialism preceded the environmental discussion. While the "24 Filial Exemplars" contained darkly amusing examples (such as sacrificing one's blood to mosquitos to protect parents or tasting a father's feces?! to diagnose a medical condition) of a late 19th century China struggling to hold onto its traditions and family and communal safety nets, it also reflects a last-gasp attempt by the Qing Empire to assert authoritarian patriarchal control over its people. Yet, over one hundred years later, the government's anxiety and mechinations to culturally reform the Chinese people seems even more direly justified. The statement acknowledged by 71% of Chinese interviewees, "what I own is the measure of my success" was especially distressing to witness. And, after witnessing the videos of cancer-causing water pollution, the crisis of capitalist materialism is doubly destructive to the souls and bodies of the Chinese people. In thinking back to another of the fables within the "24 Filial Exemplars" about the dutiful son whose persistent hard work in the fields was rewarded by animal friends such as elephants and magpies helping him harvest and an invitation from the Emperor to rule China (similar to the Cindarella story), I can't help but realize that both an individual's commitment to self sufficient labor and environmental rewards are impossible under modern circumstances. Mark Elvin's history, "Retreat of the Elephants" traces the historical environmental costs within China, and how environmental and mental health has suffered as a result of commercial progress. I wish I could be so optimistic as to believe that our efforts to mitigate climate change can succeed, but learning that 1,000 crates of unwanted "recycled material" is loaded onto ships from the US to travel halfway across the world everyday seems like more of a disinvitation to continue to put my blue recylce bin out on the curb and congratulate myself that I'm doing my part to combat environmental disaster.
The majority of my students face extreme anxiety born of the social media age as well as a deep concern about the environmental future of the world. These two lessons would translate extremely well into providing students with resources and evidence to write a "white paper" or "manifesto" concerning the role of governments, business, people and international organizations to address the crisis of materialism seen both emotionally and ecologically in consumer culture and climate change.
Aaron RabenaIn the wake of China's rapid economic ascent and modernization, the State seeks to remind the people of Confucian values, particularly the care for the elderly or filial piety. I think this is important if China wants its people to have values and not be consumed by materialism. There is now a lot of pressure to the young people as they grow -- that is to help their parents and save for their future family against the backdrop of sky high price of houses and cost of living. People being apathetic to those hit by accidents is also a symptom of a China that needs social values reform and awakening. Given the massive pollution that has struck China, owing to the process of industrialization, China has been forced to adopt sustainable development measures to mitigate the hazards of pollution and the danger it poses to public health and food safety.
Ray ClarkAt first I did not see the connection between some of the articles and part of the lecture, but as I finished, I saw the theme of relationships with the environment, especially as I am becoming more aware of the limited amount of agrable land, the scarcity of water, the increasing (though not as fast as before) population, are all stressors on the society, not to mention the poisoned environment, and the long-term dangers that brings.
I was very intrigued by a few of the articles, most notably "Chinese Youth & the State" by Rosen & Yan's "Courtship, Love & Premarital Sex in a North China Village", but I hope they are updated soon, as I imagine that in both cases, things have changed even more than these authors noticed. I had already heard of the park where people went to find spouses for their children, although it was still shocking to see the reality of the video where one lady was saying so precisely exactly how she wanted her daughter-in-law to look , and the height that was in the acceptable range, or the specificity of what some potential in-laws or suitors wanted. I recently saw a show on PBS about young, educated women who have good jobs, and several of them spoke about not wanting to get married, or be in relationships, because they don't need men, but there is that conflict about taking care of the family (especially parents-- the old Confucian filial traditions, and having children, etc). Even as a Westerner, there are still the tradionalist tugs to 'not be so selfish", I can imagine it being even more difficult as a young woman in today's China, especially because even within my lifetime, China has basically LEAPED into world power status, and has become a leader in exercising power across the world.
As I further learned about some of the innovations they are developing with solar panels, wind farms and other forms of renewable energy, I wished I were a bit younger, because it would be quite the adventure to study about some of those technologies, as well as Mandarin, perhaps putting it to work in some kind of international context, maybe in a collaborative project in some part of the developing world that the Chinese are already involved in (or will be soon).
Hector AlejandroIt was interesting to hear in the video that China like the U.S. has a sizable Millennial generation that will surely impact their countries' future. Rosen's article had a survey showing mostly a large discrepancy between how the older generations see the younger ones and how the latter see themselves. The Chinese youth see themselves as much less extreme in terms of materialistic and internationalistic values and influences. One wild card is how their nationalism might be exploited by the government to gain support for more aggressive foreign and domestic policies. I am curious how they feel about and are aware of the crackdown in Hong Kong. If "performance" is how the youth judge the government, do they only care about events in Hong Kong in terms of their own welfare? They might not see a connection between those events and their welfare. Do the youth care about or are they aware of how the world sees their country? Wouldn't their nationalism lead them to want China to be seen in a positive light? However, there must be so much government propaganda to convince the Chinese public in general that the protests are illegal and that the crackdown is justified.
Regarding China's environmental initiatives, it seems apparent that the principal motivation is to mitigate the impact of air, water and soil pollution on its population. Even if driven by self-interest, Chinese "green" outcomes like increasing their leaf, scaling up alternative evergy sources and mass-producing EVs have a large positive impact on the overall global environment. On the other hand, because of the size of the Chinese economy and population their contribution to climate change (especially by burning coal) is concerning. To what extent are their mitigation efforts out-pacing the increases in pollution?
Jonathan Alami
Ryan CarothersI thought it was interesting to learn the One Child Policy is not the only reason for an aging population. Instead, affluence and personal choice have a lot to do with this. This is a paradox, since restrictions 'and' freedom have shrunk percentage of young people. It's interesting to note older generations think the United States is a threat as much as the younger generations. This was counterintuitive since the older generations must have been exposed to Mao's propoganda, and many young people have studied abroad. If the poll was more specific, and nuanced --- then it might shed some light on this divide. Maybe there is a need to use the word competitor? China's taken great strives toward renewable energy. Nevertheless, I wonder what their impact has been on developing countries is SE Asia, and Africa (where they get so many of their raw materials)? In addition to this, the lack of fresh water in many Chinese provinces is stunning since this could lead to war. I'm thinking of the current dispute between India, and China. Is there any way to forcast the impact China's weather altering technolgies might have on it's neighbors?
Jonathan AlamiMossy, I agree that China's progress in reducing its impact on global climate change is reassuring. Environmental concerns such as a lack of clean water are and will continue to be a major challenge for China in the coming decades. The chart the showed the growth of electric vehicle production was eye opening to me because I wasn't aware that electric cars were being produced on a large scale as they are in China. I wonder if innovation in the enviornmental technology sector (solar power, wind power, electric cars, etc.) will help propel the Chinese economic miracle further along.
Jonathan AlamiJeanine, I was also suprised by the materialism in China as a result of its economic rise. I am wondering if this cultural trend is in part caused by rising economics but also in the form of cultural influence from the United States (i.e. the introduction of rock and roll in the 1980s and the proliferation of Hollywood movies in recent decades.) In addition, with so many Chinese students studying in the United States, is it possible that they are bringing this materialism that is prevelant in the United States back home with them?
Jonathan AlamiRyan, I agree I too thought that China's current demographic situation of an aging population is largely a result of the One Child Policy. However, it does make sense that economic prosperity has contributed the most to this demographic shift, as has happened with other developed nations around the world. Even when the government lifted the restrictive one child policy in 2015, there was no significant increase in the birth rate. However an aging population now means a shrinking population in the future, and perhaps this will alleviate some of the environmental challenges China faces.
Johnny WalkerRay, I was struck by your statement, "I wish I were a bit younger..." and imagine embarking on a life and career that incorporates China. I feel like my career decision-making was extremely American-centric. It's fascinating to rethink our individual life decisions and aspirations in a more China-centered world. Maybe it's because I'm married with children and over 40, but there is something about studying modern China that is also forcing me to reflect, comtemplate and imagine what the implications global forces have on our individual decision-making, and in realizing the gargantuan momentum of China and somehow reconcile my place and those of my own family and students within this frame. I'm also musing about the decline of American leadership in the world. I've also been so focused on modern American politics for the past four years to the exclusion of major worldwide events and larger trends and developments.
I teach sophomores, and many of my students come from families where they are the first to graduate high school and attend college. Occassionally, other teachers express frustrations that even some of our top-performing students lack the confidence or imagination to leave home after high school or to apply to colleges outside their own zip codes or face family resistence to those decisions. And while there are a variety of factors, many related to poverty, that tether them to a smaller world, I also am so grateful to be in a place where one of my charges and challenges is to expand my students' world and also to give them opportunities to imagine themselves in a larger world with exceptional skills. It would be a fun synthesis or project to have students study a modern facet of China and then imagine themselves within a business that relates to a China-centric world and then determine the skills they would need to acheive that position.
Johnny WalkerJonathan, I agree that the One China Policy as well as economic prosperity are responsible for the aging populations in China. I'd also like to propose that greater education for women also factors into the decreasing number of births. I think it would be money better spent on population control if rather than having had restrict women's reproductive rights, if the Chinese government had rather offered them all opportunities to pursue PHD's. Of course, I'm exaggerating, but also, greater medical technology, health care access and nutrition allows a population to survive longer. I'm curious to see if this aging population encourages China to tap into African or Latin American nations' younger populations to search for a greater labor supply. And, I wonder how the aging population will strain the needs of greater government spending to support a larger welfare system.