Download Introduction to Contemporary China

Introduction to Contemporary
China
1.
Introduction
Background readings
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1. Lieberthal, Preface
2. Saich, part of Ch 1(pp. 1-11).
3. R. Peerenboom, China Modernizes: Threat
to the West or Model for the Rest, Ch 1
(particularly, pp. 1-10)
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
#1 in Reading Packet.
4. Fairbank and Goldman, Introduction
(reference on the Chinese history)

#2 in Reading Packet (reading for next topic,
too).
Country (Area) Study

Traditional (and academic) approach:
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
Focus on the language, history, and culture of
the area (country).
Perspectives of history, anthropology, etc.
Practical approach:

Focus on socio-political, and economic aspects
of the country.
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eg. study of Soviet Union during cold war era., study of
China nowadays.
This approach is based on the traditional
approach (particularly, in China study).
This course (an introductory Sinology) follows
this approach.
Why study China?
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A large (most populous) country in the world.
A country with long history of civilization.
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Probably, the most advanced country in the world
upto the 18th century.
Advanced technology (supporting large population),
sophiscated governing institutions (maintaining a
large unified nation), advanced culture, etc.
Recent economic & political resurgence.
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Possibility of becoming a superpower.
Return (rise) of China in the center stage of the
world?
Key characteristics of China
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(1) Diversity and Complexity
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China is not a monolithic country, full of diversity,
peculiarity, and complexity.
Due to many reasons, such as large size, multiethnic population, long history, system transition,
rapid economic growth, etc.
(2) Rapid Changes and Continuity
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“The more things change, the more they stay the
same”
Key reason for understanding its history and
culture to understand contemporary China.
Key difficulty in China Study
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
Key question: “How unique is China?”
Applicability of modern (Western)
social sciences and their limit.
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Theories (models) of political science,
economics, internaitonal relations, etc.
Are useful framework to understand China.
Need to admit their limits due to China’s
uniqueness (discussed in previous slide).
Two opposing views of China
(among casual outside observers)
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(1) A rising superpower.
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Remarkably rapid economic growth.
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Modern urban centers (Shanghai, Beijing, etc) with
skyscrapers.
Emergence of wealthy people & professionals.
Potentially challenge the US dominance, with
self-assertive posture.
(2) An undemocratic, developing country.
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Authoritarian regime ruled by Communists.
Strongly self-centered, nationalistic tendancy.
Export cheap & shody products.
Two opposing views of China
(in academic circle)

(1) China as a paradigm (model)?

For succesful economic development of
developing countries?
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A progmatic approach with a rather strong
(developmental) state intervention.
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(Some people call it as) Beijing Consensus.
Negate neoliberal (market fundamental) approach
(called, Washington Consensus).
A variant of East Asian development model.
Not clear whether it is fully successful, and it
can be copied by other developing countries.
Two opposing views of China
(in academic circle)
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(2) China as problem?
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“Market economy” without democracy.
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Human right abuses.
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Weak in “the rule of law.”
Limited political participation of the people.
Political, social, religious, etc.
Potential threat to (existing) international
order & the world peace?
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Conflict between rising power and existing
power. (historical observation).
Country Profile
 Official Country Name: People’s Republic of
China (PRC) <cf: ROC (Taiwan)
 National Flag
 Emblem
 Size: 9,600 thousand km2 (N-S 5500km, EW 5200km) – the 3rd largest in the world.
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U.S. 9,400 thousand km2
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Similar size, latitudes, climate with the US.
Bordered with 14 countries, with more
neighboring countries (eg. South Korea, Japan).
(country profile- cont’d)
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Population: over 1.3 billion
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No. 1 in the world (about 20% of world
population)
27 times of South Korea, over 4 times of
US.
Rather concentrates in eastern coastal
areas (high population density).
low rate of population growth (about 0.6%
per year)- strong birth control policy.

<cf: India
Geography
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A visual contrast of North and South.
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Divided by Huai River (淮河) and Qinling (秦嶺)
mountains.
Different in soil, rainfall, temperature, life style,
etc.
Dry (cold in winter) plain of North China with
coarse grain (wheat) as staple food: origin of
Chinese civilization.
Wet (with summer monsoon) & intensively
cultivated rice paddy field of South China.
Geography
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Entire landmass tilts from West to East.
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Major rivers flow from west to east
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Eg. Long (Yangzi) River (長江, 揚子江) in the South,
Yellow River (黃河) in the North, Pearl River (珠江).
Western part: high, dry, sparse population
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Broadly, three “steps” in elevation.
West (Northwest) of Aihui-Tengchong line
Eastern part: low, wet, densely populated,
having a coastline.
Central part: roughly in-between East & West
Geography
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Quality of land: poorer than the US.
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Just 25% of land lower than 500 meters above
sea level. (60%- US, 80%- Europe)
Inhabited area of China is as half as that of US
with more than four times of population.
Relatively small cultivatable land
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Hilly and complex terrain with scattered fertile
plains (eg. Lower Yangtze area, Loess plain 黃土
高原 in the North).
Little unexploited land remain for cultivation.
Adverse condition to support such a large
population.
(Geography- continued)
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Only one coast (East, Southeast) with
inhospitable access.
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Few good harbors. (exception- H.K.)
China- basically inland (continent) civilization,
lacking oceanic orientation.
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Exception- Guangdong (廣東), Fujian (福建), part of
Zhejiang(浙江)- Hometown of most overseas Chinese.
Have over 6000 Islands larger than 500m2
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Taiwan: largest with 36 thou. Km2
Hainan (海南): second largest with 33 thou km2
Regions
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Administrative regions
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31 Province(省)-level regions.
4 centrally administered municipalities (直轄市; Beijing 北京,
Shanghai 上海, Tianjin 天津, Chongqing 重庆).
22 Provinces.
5 Autonomous Regions (provincial level):
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Tibet, Xinjiang (Uygur), Guangxi (Zhuang 壯族), Inner Mongolia
(Monggol), Ningxia (Hui 回族).
Hong Kong, Macao: Special Administrative Region, Taiwan
Large Provinces
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Population: Henan (河南 94 mil.), Shandong (山东 93 mil.)
Guangdong (广东 93 mil.）, Sichuan (四川 82 mil.)
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<cf: Tibet 2.1 mil.
Size: Tibet (Xizang), Xinjiang, Inner Mongolia, Qinghai
Administrative Regions (cont’d)
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Prefecture (地區) level Regions: 333
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Prefecture level City (283), Autonomous Prefecture
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County (縣; 县) level Areas: 2859
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County-level city 368, City district (區), County,
autonomous county
Township/Town level Areas: 40813
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Major cities; Shenyang (Liaoning), Guangzhou (Guangdong),
Nanjing (Jiangsu), Hangzhou (Zhejiang), etc
eg. Yanbian(延邊) Korean (朝鮮族) Autonomous Prefecture
Township (鄕; 乡; Xiang), Town (鎭；镇; Zhen), (City) Street
(街道)
Below Township/town level: not official administrative
body
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Village (Cun 村) in rural area, Neighborhood or Community
(社區) in urban area.
Macroregions
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Economic macroregions: 8(9)
macroregions
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(G. W. Skinner) each region centered around a
river with different characteristics.
 Composed of core area and periphery.
Across the administrative division.
Other classification also exist.
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6 macroregions (traditonal)
10 macroregions (by PRC government)
Natural Environment
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Major rivers with some importances.
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Yangzi River (Long River 長江)- the longest with
6300km with abundant water flow
Yellow River (黃河)- over 5000km long, but
waterflow only 7% of Long River
Pearl River(珠江) – flow to the south thru
Guangdong (广东) province.
Water control of major rivers has been key task of
national government.
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Irregular rainfall pattern and repeated flood and drought.
Maintaing irrigation system is key for agriculture (rice).
North lacks water, while South has relatively abundant
water resource.
Language
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Chinese- one of 5 official UN languages- Han
language (漢語) <cf: national language
Spoken Language:
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Mandarin Chinese(普通話) and many dialects (eg.
Cantonese-廣東話, etc.)
Written Language: Chinese CharacterTraditional form, Simplified form
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Simplified Form Introduced in 1956 for people to learn
easily * example: 東（东） 論 (论) 豊（丰） 個（个）
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Pinyin(倂音): A romanization method for Chinese.
characters. Eg. Beijing (北京), Deng Xiaoping(鄧小平), Qing (淸)
Population Composition
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China- multi-ethnic country composed of 56
nationalities (officially).
Han (漢) people: majority (92%) of total population
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Includes diverse people, like already assimilated minorities.
(eg. 客家- historically well-known minority in South China,
Northern & Southern people different racial origin).
Ethnic minorities: officially 55 nationalities with total
population over 100 million (about 8%)
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Zhuang (壯族) with 15 million, Man(chu), Uygur, Mongol,
Tibet, Korean (about 2 million), etc.
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Long-term assimilation policy, with short-term protection
and favor.
Some ethnic minorities have conflict with Chinese
government, with (potential) separation movement.
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