session 7 (10/9) - dube (film + 19th century)

[Christine Xu]

China’s challenges: political change, pollution/environment issue, and protest.

Recommendation: 

-Some kind of institutional participation is necessary. People should participate in the whole decision-making process. There should be more freedom of speech. 

-China focused more on the economy and neglected the environment in the past. Environmental problems become issues. In the coming decade, china's environment will be in a difficult process of recover. Therefore, supervision should be enhanced.  Reporting and emergency measure are needed. When accidents happen, enforcement and strict punishment should be implemented. 

-In China small protests become more and more numerous.Democracy is the solution to make officials careful about what they say and what they do. Even the party has to make itself democratic to ensure its own survival.

[Jacqueline Mercado]

 As our group ponders the reforms that need to take place in China at this time, it would be important to consider what reform means.  From my perspective, to reform means to improve a system that already exists and not to implement a radically new system.  From this perspective, one of the challenges our group has to address would be how does change/reform come to China without losing that which is inherently and fundamentally Chinese, the Chinese traditions and way of life.  Reform must take place and it would likely come from foreign Western ideas infiltrating China in order to improve Chinese government, its economic system and educational systems.  How can the people of China launch needed reforms and not lose the essential qualities, politics and cultural way of life that is essentially and traditionally Chinese?  If reform is too foreign and not measured, it would be a challenge to unite people for that reform.  

[Christine Xu]

Manchurian influence had continued under the early emperors of Qing dynasty, but increasingly Confucian influences were felt, especially in the civil service and other aspects of bureaucracy. From the end of 18th century, there were financial problems began to set in. With the first encounter with the British the Qing leadership showed that they needed to adopt radical changes to prevent big threats to its society. There were obvious signs that they lagged far behind of many foreign countries and needed to adopt radical changes. If there were wiser and stronger leadership at the top, china might have been transformed by peaceful processes into a constitutional monarchy. However, the Chinese looked to old ideas and solutions within their existing Confucian system for how to save themselves.

There are a lot of things we can learn from the Qing’s history. In nowadays society, “our approach needs to be revolutionary, creative, scientific, and sustainable” in order to be able to survive and thrive.

[Gerlinde Goschi]

Unfortunately, due to an obligation at my school, I was not able to be present for the screening and discussion for the film We The Workers. I wish I could have partaken.  I read everything I could find on the internet (and the class handouts) about the film.  I also watched a brief documentary introduction, A Touch of Sin (2013), about the suicide of 13 young workers in 2010 from the Foxconn factory in Shenzhen, China.  They jumped out of the company building.  A young girl survived her suicide attempt after 12 days in a coma.  She was paralyzed below her waist when she was interviewed.  She describes her work day duration from 7:00 AM-7:40 PM.  When asked why she jumped, she described being "scolded" at work constantly to work faster, and when she asked about her wages, she was sent to an address she could not find.  Out of frustration she jumped.  The documentary continues by describing the movement of millions of workers from the country side to the cities in China.  Foxconn, a Taiwanese company, is the largest manufacturer of electronic components in the world.  US workers at a factory work 41 hour weeks and earn $23/hour.  Chinese workers, however, work 60 hours weeks and earn $2/hour.  Workers in China who work the conglomarate Apple are asked to sign a form entitled "I promise not to kill myself."

 

Although laws are in place in China to protect the worker, they are not followed by companies or enforced by authorities.  The workers are not educated, live in dormitories set up by the companies. The trailer I watched about We the Workers showed a worker informing his peers about their rights and the laws.  It is encouraging to see that this is happening.  While I think the idea of a workers union is not in the immediate future for Chinese workers, these information sessions are a great first step.  It is important that this documentary circulate throughout the world to bring awareness about the plight of the Chinese worker.

[Gerlinde Goschi]

Prof.  Dube stated that China's 19th Century was not only long in duration, but also long because the problems persisted for a long time.  The problelms did not go away.  The chart shared in class showing data of relative shares of world manufacturing output was enlightning to me.  It compared the top manufacturing countries in the world throughout centuries from 1750-1900.  As Prof. Dube said: "This is the one chart that explains something about China today."  It shows that in 1750, 32.8 shares of the world manufacturing output was in China.  This is a fact I don't remember learning in history class about China.  It explains China's economic power at the time and it raises the question "What happened to China's economic power?  Why did China's manufacturing output drop to 6.2 in 1900? Why was China considered the Third World in 1750 with the highest share of manufacturing output?"  The reason for this shift was industrialization not increase in population. The Qing Dynasty in China has been one of the longest. They realized that accomodation woud lead to their longevity.  So the Qing Dynasty accommodated ethnically, culturally, and politically.  This was the key to their success.  They did not challenge the existing order but tried to make changes that also accommodated the existing order.  For example, top ranks in the political system included a Manchu and a Chinese official.  They also did not take away land (except in Shanghai).  The Qing Expansion brought Taiwan under imperial control and brought more territories under their control.  When the Qing Dynasty fell in 1911, groups of anti-Qing activists cut off thier pigtails as a sign of their rebellion.  According to an economic historian, Joel Mokyr, from Northwestern University, the Industrial Revolution occured in Europe and not in China because "Europe developed a unique culture of competitive scientific advancement.  Europe developed a unique culture of competitive scientific and intellectual advancement that was unprecedented and not at allpredestined."

[Gerlinde Goschi]

I am part of the Self-Strengthening group. Our leader, Li Hongzhang, and his mentor Zeng Guofan, are the true organizers and forces in putting down the Taiping Rebellion, although, Westeners do not credit them with it.  I think our group should focus on modernization.  China is not part of the Industrial Revelotion, we are lagging behind Europe.  Steamers gave Westeners great advantages during the two Opium Wars.  We should focus on modenizing infrastructure and on promoting scientific breakthrough and advancements.  Our military needs some strengthening.

[Gerlinde Goschi]

We lost both Opium Wars to the superiority of Western military power (firearms) and technology. China needs to strengthen its military to contend the internal and external challenges.  Our army and navy is inadequate and in need of training.  We need to bring in Western technology to strengthen our military.  We have a disadvantage at sea as our navy is not able to defend the South China coast.  We should learn from Europe and its superiority as it is caused by its strong military.  Military academies should be established.  Our most urgent priority should be true to our slogan "Enrich the State and Strengthen the Military."

[Gerlinde Goschi]

Military power will give us the power to negatiate treaties (if neccessary) from a position of power and leverage.  We also need to consider economic development so we can raise the standard of living for the people and enrich the people so they can improve their livelihood. Change and economic progress are inevitable. Our modernization efforts should include the building shipyards and railroads, and universities.  All these efforts should involve the government every step of the way.  These should also be our top priorities.

[Erin Tanguay]

I was really moved by the film and I would definitely like to see the entire documentary. As I mentioned during the discussion at the end of the film, I found so many similarities to the teacher's union and the same focus on "collective bargaining" and the ability to truly change the treatment of all workers. As a UTLA member and a previous school representative for over 5 years I was not surprised to hear that teachers can be the hardest to organize. The level of education and expected salary does lend to apathy which is strange and puzzling. Many would think it would be the opposite. I asked the film maker if they had every worked with or shown this film to any teacher unions and he mentioned AFT (American Federation of Teachers). I really would love more teachers to view this film. I have already mentioned it to many teachers at my school site, especially since we are currently in negotiations for our new contract and the union is asking teachers to take action at their schools. Last Wednesday we were asked to hold signs and talk to parents at the front of school in the morning and only 10 out of 81 teachers showed. This can also be the downfall of "collective bargaining," because even if only a few participate all will benefit, and then of course the number of participating goes down in the future. Maybe this film can spark a fire within our own union!

[Evelyn Mendoza]

I was thinking the exact same thing.... The reformists are also nationalists and they want to "Make China Great Again". (lol) So, a huge part of the reform movement is to maintain Chinese traditions, creating a dilema. How can you reform but maintain the status quo? As a group member stated above, scholars should be allowed to travel to western countries, learn about their governments, their economy, society, etc. This knowledge should then be brought back to China where it can be dissected by other Reform Scholars and, if beneficial to our country, manipulated to fit our needs. In picking foreign ideas apart, and then putting them back together, we can put our unique brand on it. Thus, making it a Chinese idea; with no foreign attachment, at least in appearance. 

[Jasmine Wang]

One of the biggest challenges we will have is the establishment of the republic when after our revolution takes place. Much of the population have been indoctrinated by the Manchu government, engaging in cruel customs, smoking opium, and maintaining culture that goes against modern progress. The Chinese people need to build their min zu (nationalism/ national consciousness), where the land is returned to the rightful owners and we build a Chinese democracy! 

Sticking to the San Min Chu (Three Principles of the People), we must center nationalism, democracy, and people's livelihood in our fight.  These will be the guiding principles in unifying our people and overthrowing the Manchu tyrants. To reach this, there are three steps we must take. The first is military rule. While this is not the end condition, this is how we rid of Manchu political and social abuses. Next, we implement a provisional constitution.  With that, military power will move to local admistration.  Last, constitutional rule will be implemented.  This is when there is no military rule and the government lies within a constitution based in Chinese democratic ideals.  

This is our way forward! Down with the Manchu! 

[Jasmine Wang]

I would love to watch some or all of We the Workers with my students.  Typically in my world history course, I start off my industrialization unit with a current event.  The current event I usually use is the suicide of the Foxconn workers in China a few years back.  The question that is posed to students is "Who or what is to blame for the suicide of the Foxconn workers."  Students are asked to analyze the ideas of capitalism and socialism, and the effects of industrialization on the world and our every day lives.  I think the film would be a great way to show how ideas and events like this come "full circle."  While nothing is "done," it's important for students to know that the story doesn't end at the death of Foxconn workers.  It is important for students to know that there are ways to resist and there are people and institutions that can be held responsible.  The question becomes how can it be done.  If students are able to watch the film, I'd like them to compare and contrast the struggles with workers in the film to those during the industrialization era.  Moreover, I'd like them to take note of what activists and workers did to resist and hold institutions accountable.  What were some of the strategies they used in demanding for their due wages, healthcare, etc. This would eventually take us into our South African apartheid unit when students look at resistance strategies used during Apartheid to regain humanity. 

[Lin ZhaoDavison]

I thought about the workers' unions and teachers' unions as I was watching the episode of The Collective Bargaining in the film "We The Workers".  As far as I know American workers or teachers' unions have much more collective bargaining powers than the Chinese counterparts.  Some of the reasons are American unions are better organized,  freedom of speech and respect for human rights are deeply rooted in American society.  In the film, It seems that the Chinese workers just started to organize a class dialogue with the employer and set up collective bargaining terms helped by a lawyer.  I hope the Chinese workers may have more bargaining power and live a more desirable life.

[Lin ZhaoDavison]

In July 1907, Qiu Jin was convicted insurrection aganist the Qing Empire and was beheaded.  Her corps was unclaimed and disowned because of the long tradition of punishing relatives and neighbors of the convicted.  Her family hid from the public for months.  Monthly later, her brother recoverd her body and roughly buried her.  But at the end of the year the Qing soldiers razed her tomb.  The ruthless persecution and abandonment of her body after the execution showed the oppresive power of the Qing Empire. Qiu Jin was regarded as a nationalist hero and martyr and was mourned by Chinese people from generations to generations. Burials were set up in her memory. As a rebel, I would propose a trial system participated by ordinary people and abolishment of death penalty to the political opponents. 

[Jacqueline Mercado]

Indeed, as we read some of  Zhang Zhidong's ideas of reform, we see that he was concerned with bringing new ideas to China with the goal of reforming and improving China's government but he also points out that the Chinese should be more circumspect and avoid some of the problematic consequences and problems that have arisen in other parts of the world as a result of reform efforts.  This goes with your idea of how if the Chinese can examine those efforts they can avoid some of the same mistakes and not bring those same problems to China.

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