The China Fantasy How Our Leaders Explain Away Chinese Repression

by Mann, James

• ISBN13: 9780670038251
• ISBN10: 0670038253
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2007-02-15
• Publisher: Viking Adult

Summary

From The New York Timesbestselling author of Rise of the Vulcans, an exploration of Chinese authoritarianism and Western capitalism In The China Fantasy, bestselling author James Mann examines the evolution of American policy toward China and asks, Does it make sense? What are our ideas and hidden assumptions about China? In this vigorous look at China’s political evolution and its future, Mann explores two scenarios popular among the policy elite. The Soothing Scenario contends that the successful spread of capitalism will gradually bring about a development of democratic institutions, free elections, independent judiciary, and a progressive human rights policy. In the Upheaval Scenario, the contradictions in Chinese society between rich and poor, between cities and the countryside, and between the openness of the economy and the unyielding Leninist system will eventually lead to a revolution, chaos, or collapse.Against this backdrop, Mann poses a third scenario and asks, What will happen if Chinese capitalism continues to evolve and expand but the government fails to liberalize? What then and why should this third scenario matter to Americans? Mann explores this alternate possibility and—in this must-read book for anyone interested in international politics—offers a startling vision of our future with China that will have a profound impact for decades to come.

Author Biography

James Mann is author in residence at Johns Hopkins University-'s Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies and the author of Rise of the Vulcans, About Face, and Beijing Jeep. He was previously the Los Angles Times Beijing bureau chief.

Table of Contents

Introduction : euphemizing China
The third scenario	p. 1
The lexicon of dismissal	p. 29
The Starbucks fallacy	p. 49
The P-factor	p. 69
Let the games begin	p. 89
Conclusion : who's integrating whom?	p. 101
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