Session 9 - Clay Dube, December 3

[cgao]

Please post your reaction here.

[Lin Kuang]

http://www.popyard.com/cgi-mod/article.cgi?num=23571

By 2030, China plans plans to the world leader in artificial intelligence. Since 2000, China has build high spped rails system to spur techical development and and transportation system, which shorten the traveling time between citiies. I know from CHongqing to Chengdu, usuaally it will take 6 hrs by bus, but it's just 2hrs by High Speed train with much more effiiciency. In 2016 , CHina dominated AI funding, "48 per cent of total equity funding of AI start-ups globally came from China, compared to 38 per cent funded by the US, and 13 per cent by the rest of the world.", this states that China's growth in AI.Based on what they have achieved, they laid ou plan to ultimately become  AI world leader plan in 2017 with $150 million AI industrial grwoth.

[Ingrid Herskind]

Dr. Dube discussed Deng's 1978 Economic Reform plan discussion both Gradualism and Pragmatism. I've been thinking about the goals of gradualism as it applies to the One Belt, One Road agenda. There are many articles and maps that discuss China's One Belt, One Road program, but there is not a cohesive, organized article that fully outlines the goals of the program. This seems to fit with Deng's gradualism reform that stated, "finding your way across the stream gradually" was the way to go!  China's remarkable development plans are grand and all-encompassing, but are not necessarily all tied to a well presented agenda. It will be interesting to see how these projects help with infrastructural development and connections between China and the developing world. (as well as China and Europe and the Middle East!)

[Ingrid Herskind]

I picked up the book "The Last Days of Old Beijing" by Michael Meyer about the impact of the economic transformation of Old Beijing. I was inspired to pick up this book after our last China lecture about the 1978 Economic Reform. This book is written by a journalist who has experienced the changes in Beijing from 1995-present. The book isn't written in a touristy way and said that he fell in love with Beijing at first sight. He writes about what he believes is a dying aspect of life in Old Beijing. Many of the ideas in the book truly reflected the discussions we had about the rapid development in China and the impact it is having on their culture.

[Mario Galindo]

When Professor Dube mentioned the idea of Socialism with Chinese charcteristics many questions I had about contemporay China were thawed. The idea that Lenin's thought was still essential while Marx's removed, for example.

Having a class consciousness and a type of "primative democracy" where, in order to work, certain individuals retained privilege and power, makes sense to the embrassed American lifestyle while still firewalling the national internet.

Another enlightening idea was the example of pragmatism where a black cat and a white cat are the same. . . as long as they both catch mice, that is.

Whatever it takes as long as it's for the "good" of the country. There are plenty of mice to spare.

[Lindsay Reiss]

I found the section of Professor Dube's lecture on pragmatism and gradualism interesting. We learned about how the Chinese people took on new ways to be more profitable such as leasing out farmland in order to do other jobs that could make more money. This plays to the idea of "work smarter, not harder." Professor Dube also talked about how the Chinese workforce was still decreasing even at this time. Additionally, we learned that China GDP from 2.4 and 2017 to 12.2 trillion (after joining WTO) and that China is #1 in terms of executions.

[Kim Leng]

I found this article, “China’s ‘One Belt, One Road’ initiative,” on Australia’s government website.  It provides the initiatives of the program along with reactions, criticism, and impact on Austrialia.  There’s also an article on the economist found here: https://www.economist.com/leaders/2018/07/26/chinas-belt-and-road-plans-are-to-be-welcomed-and-worried-about.  What do you think of this article: https://www.theguardian.com/cities/ng-interactive/2018/jul/30/what-china-belt-road-initiative-silk-road-explainer?  I think the Guardian article contains some useful graphics and does a great job explaining what exactly is China's Belt and Road Initiative (as stated in its title) and addresses some concerns:

As Belt and Road expands in scope so do concerns it is a form of economic imperialism that gives China too much leverage over other countries, often those that are smaller and poorer.

I'm curious to know what will happen to the countries that will owe China so much money.  Will China also claim some territories to make up for the debt?  As the Guardian article mentioned,  "In 2011, China wrote off an undisclosed debt owed by Tajikistan in exchange for 1,158 sq km (447 sq miles) of disputed territory."

[Sophia Kang]

Professor Dube discussed the three institutions that have shaped today's China: 1) the Hukou system limits which shaped opportunities for people; 2) Chinese communist party; 3) Family planning policy. This addressed my misunderstanding of the one-child lmit that I thought restricted families from having more children. An idea that I found interesting was that "political power comes from the barrel of a gun" and that even the thoughtful politicians who impacted the foundations of the Chinese political system quickly lost power because they did not have an army. 
 

[Margaret Siryj]

The 1978 Economic Reform brought about some interesting changes to China.  A bullet train was developed and now used in the country.  This train was built in response to the vast number of Chinese that need daily transportation back and forth to work.  Many Chinese workers had employment and much technology was developed for the success of this massive transportation project.  Additionally, AI, artificial intelligence was an off-shoot from the Economic Reform.  Artificial intelligence uses millions of objects to capture a given idea for sampling or research projects.  The power and draw from the Economic Reform to "speed pass" and get through costly research that many companies are not prepared to give up for a given technology or new product.  Having artificial intelligence allows, in some cases, ordinary users, to provide valuable input that can speed up the process and get the product to market quicker.  Compared to old school methods, artificial intelligence or crowd sourcing is a faster and more cost-efficient way of doing business.  

[Christine Moguel]

Belt and road or yi dai yi lu- was an insteresting article to say the least about the next step China is taking in its efforts of world economic dominance.  The Belt spans from South-east Asia to Eastern Europe and Africa, Belt and Road includes 71 countries that account for half the world’s population and a quarter of global GDP.  Heavy duty proposal considering China is at the healm of the efforts to credit poorer counties the money they need to build this "belt" system of commerce.  Who ends up winning due to this "dept trap diplomacy" idea?  China!    As Belt and Road expands in scope so do concerns it is a form of economic imperialism that gives China too much leverage over other countries, often those that are smaller and poorer.

I too wonder what China will do with more money than they could possibly imaging.  Well I know the simple answer to that is POWER,  world dominationa dn power.  Pretty scary if you ask me. Lets see what happens.

[Kathryn Sutherland]

I found Deng Xiaoping's rise, fall, and rise again in the communist party to be an extremely interesting chapter in China's history and one that I didn't know a lot about.  Everyone knows about Mao and his vision of equality through land reform and development--that's what the chapter about China in the history book is all about, or at least that's what I remember from high school.  But Deng's reforms have been more influential in the long term than Mao's--I have a line in my notes that says "Deng is the most important person in 20th century China-> his pragmatism changes China."  I wonder why this narrative isn't more well-known.  Sure, Deng never held the highest position in the communist party, but his path to power and his legacy make him just as interesting as Mao.  China is a world leader because of the pragmatism and gradualism of Deng.

[Kim Leng]

When Professor Dube mentioned that Deng Xiaoping never took the top titles in Chinese politics, I found that statement to be quite intriguing.  I would like to read a biography on him.  Was it a personal choice to not be the number one guy?  Or can one accomplish much more change being the second guy?  A guy who flies under the radar, but managed to effect change? 

I learned that since Deng came into power, China has experienced reform since 1978.

According to this article (https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/monkey-cage/wp/2018/12/19/40-years-ago-deng-xiaoping-changed-china-and-the-world/?noredirect=on&utm_term=.c4ed52efc1c5), Deng “incorporated free-enterprise.”  I don’t understand all of Deng’s reform, but it appears that his policies guided China into the 21^st century.  He opened diplomatic relations with other countries and a couple years after his death, China entered the World Trade Organization.

[Kim Leng]

Kathryn,

I found Deng Xiaoping's life and reform to be an exciting chapter in China's history too!  I think more people have heard of Mao compared to Deng.  Why  is that?  From what I've learned in this seminar about Deng, it appears that he is a major player in contributing to China's rise to power.  The Washington Post article (https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/monkey-cage/wp/2018/12/19/40-years-ago-deng-xiaoping-changed-china-and-the-world/?noredirect=on&utm_term=.92e9bd3c9604) I read mentioned that Deng's take over in 1978 changed not only China, but the entire world!  That's a huge impact!

 

[Lindsay Reiss]

Artificial intelligence is such a hot topic these days. I know my students would be interested in learning about it. My students are currently learning about robotics and this information would tie in nicely. It is very cool for them to see how far robotics has come and what the possibilities are in the world of AI.

[Sophia Kang]

This reminded me of an article (https://openknowledge.worldbank.org/bitstream/handle/10986/5967/9780195204605_ch05.pdf?sequence=6)

in that it discusses the effects of development on the core culture. Although this article focuses more on population growth that shakes up cultures, it made me wonder how China has been structuring their educational system with such a rapid growth. It seems that countries become shaky in their national identity during these times when there is less reflection on their past and more focus on speedily building up systems. 

[Author]

Posts