CHINA WATCH by John King Fairbank ( 9780674117655 ) - Books & Audio Books at Pickabook.co.uk

Item Details

Title:

CHINA WATCH

By:

Format:

Hardback

List price:	£27.95
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ISBN 10:

0674117654

ISBN 13:

9780674117655

Publisher:

HARVARD UNIVERSITY PRESS

Pub. date:

1 January, 1987

Pages:

232

Description:

Traces the history of Chinese-American relations, forecasts China's future economic role, and discusses difficulties facing modern China.

Synopsis:

America's top China-watcher, the renowned "pandit" of modern Chinese history, here provides an unrivaled overview of revolutionary China and Chinese-American relations. His reviews and critical commentary scrutinize our always fascinated, often puzzled attitude toward this newly emergent superpower. John Fairbank distinguishes two major motifs in recent Chinese-American connections: the American expectation of highly profitable trade and investment, which so far have not materialized, and the deep-rooted missionary impulse to give the Chinese the best of our culture, which includes our efforts to promote human rights. The possibility of grafting our ideas of individual endeavor and God-given prerogatives onto two thousand years of Confucianism with its emphasis on duty and collective harmony seems remote. In contrast, the outlook for mutually enriching economic dealings is much brighter. Yet Fairbank cautions that we are dealing with a huge and disoriented nation struggling to enter the modern world with its own cultural identity intact, and (at least in the current period) with its Communist Party in power. Confucian tenets still prevail: theory and practice are a unity policies are a form of conduct manifesting one's character, and attacks on policy equal attacks on the ruling party. These writings concern China in the mind's eye of America--as it is interpreted though the works of American merchants, diplomats, missionaries, and reporters observing China's travail of revolution. For generalist, scholar, and sage alike, "China Watch" offers many insights.

Publication:

Imprint:

Harvard University Press

Returns:

Returnable

Some other items by this author:

A DOCUMENTARY HISTORY OF CHINESE COMMUNISM