two articles about China

In an effort to do some research about China before I leave for Shenzhen in August (this is still pending but I am assuming that I will go one way or another) I am going to read and blog about one article a day that relates in some way to China or Chinese language/culture/people.

Today I have read two, both panel discussions from the New York Times. The first, Will China Achieve Science Supremacy, discusses the merits and obstacles of scientific research in China. Several of the panelists commented on how constant political campaigning interferes with scientific growth.

"Hu Jintao, the current supremo, has reinvigorated Marxist instruction in schools and universities. At the very least, incessant campaigns are a distraction from real research and study. Every month spent on understanding “the primary stage of socialism” or “the important thought of the Three Represents” is one fewer month devoted to the periodic table or sub-atomic particles. Of course, the new ideological indoctrination stifles free thinking across the board."
-Gordon G. Chang, author of “The Coming Collapse of China” and a columnist at Forbes.com.

There was also significant mention of recent academic frauds in China. This is attributed to pressure on scientists for more "visible," published and highly quantitative (rather than qualitative) results. In that same vein, one panelist notes that China is "pursuing a brute force strategy" when it comes to investing in the country's scientific future.

"[China is] creating many new institutions of higher education that in turn will produce a large number of new scientists and engineers. The underlying assumption seems to be that quantity will lead to quality; in other words, world class achievement will emerge when the 'installed base' of talent reaches a critical mass."
-John Kao, the chairman and founder of the Institute for Large Scale Innovation, has been an adviser to many organizations involved in developing innovation strategies and capabilities. A former Harvard Business School professor, he is the author of “Jamming” and “Innovation Nation.”

The implications of this article are that China is working hard to create a foundation for scientific thought and innovation in today's society. However, there will have to be some necessary changes in both government views and policy, as well as a fundamental change in direction in order for this scientific drive to flourish. There cannot be innovation without creativity and freedom from internal (i.e. Chinese govt) pressures to produce quantitative results.


The second article is (very tellingly so) much less meaty than the first and concerns perceptions of race in China. Aside from talking about China's history of diversity and a few recent issues of public identity questioning (taking place on a Chinese 'American Idol' type show), none of the panelists really addresses directly or extensively the subject of how different races are perceived or treated in China. Perhaps this is because "Chinese people" are by self-definition multi-ethnic, with the majority being Han and the countless other ethnicities considered minorities. This would obviously create a completely different perception of race than for example an American point of view. However, it is also apparent from this article that not much (scholarly or otherwise) attention has been given to the impact of racial diversity in China and with the country's increasingly global and international environment, this is going to be a hugely important issue before too long.