Contemporary China: Tradition and Modernity

Poonam Surie

This book is about contemporary China, relationships and negotiations between State and Society across the realm of tradition and modernity. It is an exploration of societal issues, gender issues and several other concerns, including environmental goals and the impact of religious beliefs in China. China has not only evolved in terms of its economy, but has made its mark in the world in many other ways. Becoming a global manufacturing hub, with supply chains, increasing trade and commerce, success in poverty alleviation, all have added to the success story. Contemporary China is a complex amalgamation of political ideologies which are centered on the power of the leadership and capitalism with Chinese characteristics, wherein the private sector is curtailed by political factors and controlled by the Party in various ways. Religion is also a factor which plays a role in making people aware of their traditions and philosophies, but at the same time is being used by the Party as a control mechanism. The ideologies which are being talked about by the leadership are Marxism with Chinese characteristics, socialism with Chinese characteristics and the rule of law, again with Chinese characteristics, not to forget its version of grass roots democracy and nationalism, which talks about the state for the people and people for the state. However, there is a complex relationship between the Party and society and constant negotiations are a part of the warp and weft of the Party state.

China has been trying to go into a consumption led growth, rather than continue to depend on exports and infrastructure development. However, new challenges have emerged and to ensure that China can continue to grow at a fast pace on a sustainable basis and to reduce dependence on external technology, the focus has shifted to innovation and domestic technology development, including in all futuristic domains such as AI, Quantum, Cyber, Robotics, green energy, etc.

This book delves into several aspects of the foundation of contemporary Chinese society, the realms across the wider horizons and its commonalities across the terrain and the historical and cultural connections with its neighbour, India.

Poonam Surie

Poonam Surie, an economist by training from the Delhi School of Economics, is an Independent Researcher and Analyst, and currently Adjunct Fellow at the Institute of Chinese Studies, New Delhi. She is the author of two well received books on China, covering societal and cultural issues. Two volumes of her poetry have also been published. She has taught, in the past, at Delhi University and subsequently, in Thimphu in Bhutan, New York and Beijing. Besides her academic pursuits, poetry and enamelling on copper, remain key areas of interest. She has presented papers at several national and international conferences.

Contents

Preface

1. Confluence and Eternity
2. Kautilya and Confucius: Ideologies and Philosophies Related to Society, Politics and Governance
3. The Mountains and the Lay of the Land: The Search for the Infinite and the Finite
4. Culture, Perception, and Belief
5. Modern and Contemporary China
6. Decoding the Mindset
7. Promoting Chinese Buddhism and Daoism to Serve Party

Goals: Exploring Marxism with Chinese Characteristics

8. Chinese Society and Materialism
9. Society and State Negotiations
10. The China Model, Nationalism and Patriotism
11. Tangible and Cultural Heritage
12. Broader Perspectives
13. Animal-Human Interface
14. Permeating the Minds of Children
15. Cultural Connects with India
16. Gender Issues in Xi Jinping’s China
17. Demographic U-Turn in China: Xi Jinping’s Vision 2035 and the Three-Child Policy
18. The Path Ahead
Notes

About the Author