Bücher der Reihe Series on Contemporary China

Acting as a Sorcerer's Apprentice, the West incorporated 1.3 billion Chinese and 1.2 billion Indians into the world's labour equation within a context of lower production costs. This resulted in erosion of its competitive capacity and social stability, while greatly benefiting developing economies, many of which were able to emerge with unprecedented speed. With China as the main engine, the developing economies have become increasingly integrated, sustaining in the process a fundamental part of the global trade growth. While this phenomenon took shape, excesses within Western economies generated a seismic crisis that dramatically accelerated a slow decline. As the ascendant and descendant curves of developing and developed economies are crossing each other, a decoupling tendency between both has become evident. The economic partnership between China and Latin America epitomizes well the growing integration between emerging economies. Even if mostly benefiting from it, Latin America is under the double sign of threat and opportunity due to this complex relation. For Latin America to prevail, it will need to reinvent itself. The analyses and information contained in this book will be of interest to researchers, academics and policy-makers alike.

This book focuses on a region that, next to the Middle East, has become a dragnet of international conflicts in the world. The South China Sea (SCS) region, furthermore, is the subject over which a rumored war may break out between the United States, the extant superpower, and China, an emergent superpower — should the current power transition end up in a Thucydides Trap. The volatility of the situation has gone beyond the long simmering tensions due to overlapping claims by six contending Asian neighbors, to culminate in a nascent crisis surrounding the US–China contest.The book's broad sweep provides a careful examination of two tangles: (i) a legal tangle bedeviling China's relations with other competing claimant nations, and (ii) a geopolitical tangle at the heart of the US–China contest, arising from America's instinctual response to the China-threat scare trumpeted by neorealist analysts and media gurus as well. The book reviews what general international law has to say on "historic waters", which is the basis of China's claim, in its disputes with its contending neighbors. It also examines the background of the China-threat scare, to see if it has any merit, in light of both the shifts in the running China debate and the evidence of China's might and intentions.The book's final part explores a possible way out of the two tangles, in the interest of arriving at a reconciliation of the tensions and conflicts associated with the SCS, so that the United States and China can meet each other across the divide for the sake of a new era of public order, presumably under a condominium they can build together.

Alongside China's vast material development, there came a change of its mental habits, largely affected by the technological revolution in the means of mass communication. This book shows how such a change has brought - and yet been brought by - a new form of pictorial thought, essentially sensuous and imagery, which is suggesting a possible future for the world. Today's China is different from what it used to be; the Maoist years appear, even to the official mind, an absurdity; and this difference is evident in the replacement of the Maoist mass-politics by what should be called "Moral politics", which is petty and personal. It is the moralizing practice that characterizes today's China, when the birth of so-called "ordinary people", taken as a collection of individual authors of their own private lives and personal stories, became an acknowledged social fact, proliferating in all kinds of mass media. This study traces the birth of "ordinary people" to the beginning of the century, when the reformation of the political in terms of personal dilemmas or moral groans began. From the beginning of this century, the moral content of Chinese politics is more and more fulfilled by such as problems of marriage or sexual affairs. In other words, this is participant observation of an affective change in the Chinese mind, where and when sociology became photographic, i.e. the photographer a natural sociologist, and the mold of Facebook or Wechat communication has reshaped the ideographic tradition of its writing system. This is yet another "Cultural Revolution" on the ruins of the Maoist revolution.

Placing the modernization of China in a historical context, Social Construction in Contemporary China provides a powerful argument that social construction is instrumental for the country's modernization process and a key factor in China's national rejuvenation. A wide range of topics and issues related to social construction are covered, including people's livelihood and social undertakings, income distribution, urban and rural communities, community organizations, social management, social norms, reforms of social institutions and systems, social restructuring and the process of social construction. In addition to well-informed and insightful analyses of these subjects that draw on the country's historical experiences, contributors also provide policy suggestions on how to tackle problems and respond to challenges. Its breadth and depth make this volume a valuable addition to the growing body of literature on this important topic.

Since the beginning of the 21st century, China's energy diplomacy has been expanding rapidly and the country is searching for energy resources worldwide.

The South China Sea Disputes: Historical, Geopolitical and Legal Studies covers various issues regarding the currently controversial theme of the South China Sea (SCS) disputes. It contains insights by scholars mostly from Republic of China (Taiwan), along with ones from Peoples' Republic of China (mainland China), the Philippines, Australia, and the United States (US).The book is divided into three sections, wherein the historical analysis section illustrates certain important but currently neglected treaties for SCS, e.g., the San Francisco Peace Treaty, the Taipei Treaty, and the Cairo Declaration. In particular, the Nationalist government's efforts to recover the Chinese sovereignty in the islands of SCS after the end of World War II are covered. Archival research found in the national archives of the Taiwan, the United Kingdom, the US, and Japan, revealing materials with potential for enhancing territorial and sovereignty claims is covered. In addition, the US State Department historical materials on the SCS disputes are also shown.The geopolitical analysis section in the book specifically addresses the state practice in SCS by Taiwan. It also reveals Taiwan's evolving attitudes from thoughtful planning to perfunctory policy thereof. The circumstances of US-China rivalry in the SCS are also discussed.The legal analysis section includes an explanation of the arbitral award of the SCS, wherein it argues that this arbitration is a non-justiciable dispute resolution. This book serves as a good reference for readers interested in South China Sea disputes.

Based on the study done by the Research Group on Social Structure Change in Contemporary China, a group affiliated with the Institute of Sociology, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, this book recommends theories and methods on social structure to society and readers, and investigates the development and change in China's social structure.

Takes a fresh approach to township or xiangzhen governance. This title explores the structural constraints on township governance and the way that these constraints influence the day-to-day behavior of Chinese rural grassroots government leaders. It is based on thoroughgoing interviews with township and village cadres and villagers.

As China rises to become the world's largest economy, it is expected to alleviate half-a-billion people from being rural villagers to urban residents in the coming decades. The great urbanization of the world's most populated country is sure to be one of the most remarkable social-economic events in the 21st century. This book aims to give the reader a clear and comprehensive review of this unfolding event. It not only presents a historical review of the evolution of public policies and institutional reforms regarding urban development, but also an up-to-date survey and in-depth analysis of various social-economic forces that define and contribute to the process of urbanization. The target audiences include students of modern China and professionals interested in China's urban development. The general public as well as scholars may also find the book informative and fascinating.

Examines different dynamics such as marketisation, globalisation and new media technologies that have driven the transformation of China's media industry against the backdrop of the growing tensions between economic growth, globalisation, and political control in China.

Provides an analysis of the main Chinese industrial sectors through case studies, data analysis and review of state-initiated policies. This book uses key sectors including automobile, steel, shipbuilding, high-speed railway and new energy, to analyze the development of China's industries, along with their challenges and future prospects.

Presents a perspective of the experiences of China's reform over the years by focusing on China's interaction with and learning from the external world in her unprecedented efforts to reform and open up. This book deals with lessons from the Eastern Bloc, China's reform in East Asian context, and China and the developed world.

Tackles the issue of governance in China. This book provides information on China's political elites and evaluates their ability to deal with crises through four case studies: the Tibet issue, the Taiwan issue, the Sichuan Earthquake, and the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games.

Analyzes the factors in China's governance and political process that affect and restrain its capacity to handle the mounting environmental problems. This work argues that solutions to China's ecological woes to a larger extent lie in the political and institutional changes rather than in engineering, technological and investment input.

Before 1978, China was backward economically, politically, diplomatically and was extremely isolated.

Most of the existing literature on health system reform in China deals with only one part of the reform process (for example, financing reform in rural areas, or the new system of purchasing pharmaceuticals), or consists of empirical case studies from particular cities or regions. This book gives a broad overview of the process of health system reform in China. It draws extensively both on the Western literature in health economics and on the experience of health care reform in a number of other countries, including the US, UK, Holland, and Japan, and compares China's approach to health care reform with other countries. It also places the process of health system reform in the context of re-orienting China's economic policy to place greater emphasis on equity and income distribution, and analyzes the interaction of the central and local governments in designing and implementing the reforms. This book will be of interest to policymakers, academics, students of health economics, health policy and health administration, and people who are interested in Chinese social policy.

Provides readers with an understanding of the important and emerging political, economic and social trends and challenges in East Asia in the coming years.

There is no denying that China is experiencing radical changes, generally initiated by the vibrant market-driven economy. The question remains, however, of what has happened to those who, just a few decades before, experienced pride and power in being part of the proletariat. This book presents an investigation into their lives and memories.

Brings together the works of some of leading China, Taiwan, and Pacific politics specialists analysing a topic of growing importance: China and Taiwan's ever-growing involvement in the South Pacific. This book pinpoints China's involvement in the South Pacific within the context of China's wider foreign policy.

The global financial turmoil, triggered by the US subprime crisis, has resulted in the worst global economic crisis since the 1930s. As the world's third largest economy, China is inevitably affected seriously. This volume offers an assessment of the impact of the crisis and the measures of the Chinese government to overcome the difficulties.

This book consists of papers presented at the International Conference on "China: The Next Decade," organized by the East Asian Institute at the National University of Singapore in 2007 to commemorate the Institute's 10th anniversary. With eight papers covering China's economic, social and political development, this volume offers a balanced yet in-depth assessment of the challenges facing China in the next decade. Featuring contributions from internationally renowned scholars, this timely volume analyzes key aspects of China's reforms and development, such as the financial reform, international trade, leadership succession, social protests, health care reform and ethnic relationships. It is suitable for China scholars as well as advanced undergraduate and graduate students interested in China's polity, economy and society.

Looks at the need for greater East Asian cooperation and the challenges to this grand endeavor. This volume examines the political and economic relations between Beijing and its neighbors against the backdrop of two trends: the power shift from the West to the East in the aftermath of the American Financial Crisis and the rise of China.

With the KMT regaining power from the DPP on May 20, 2008, both Beijing and Taipei have been adjusting their policies toward each other. This book explores the process of attitude change and policy adjustment on both sides of the Straits since the 1980s and offers policy recommendations.

Examines the issues and challenges of social development faced by societies in Mainland China, Taiwan and Hong Kong, with a reference to the major strategies these societies adopt to promote social cohesion and civil harmony in the context of globalization. This book is suitable for those who want to know about societies in Mainland China.

Presents an account of social policy initiatives in China. This book assesses the social impact brought about by the market-oriented changes in China's social policies, and contests the idea whether market-oriented development can result in a more sustainable society.

As China benefits from globalization, what is the impact on China's relations with countries in its neighbouring region when it seeks more oil importation from overseas sources? This book looks at the emergence of China as a major importer and consumer of energy as well as examines contemporary issues within the Chinese oil industry.

Examines the political and conceptual metamorphosis of China's oil industry from self-reliance to internationalization. This book, through the empirical case study of Daqing, the premiere oilfield of the People's Republic of China (PRC) for most of the postwar period, analyses key historical developmental concepts and events.