Recovering in Shanghai

For the weeks to follow until the summer’s end, I will be contributing to Democracy & Society while on the road abroad in China.  Presently spending a few days in Shanghai to get my bearings, I expect to do a fair deal of travel around the nation, hopefully exploring not just the urban landscape but learning from the people I meet while travelling.  Much has been written on the recent history of rapid change in China, and while I have no expectation of contributing anything earth-shattering during my travels it is my hope that my experiences and the opinions of those I meet will offer perspective on China’s approach to governance in relation to the broader world.

For the next few weeks, I aim to compose a number of posts on my dealings with students and those interested in the politics of the region while continuing to contribute my occasional thoughts on issues relative to democratic development worldwide.  After only a few hours of being in China I’ve already run into my fair share of issues with regard to the state’s stance on internet freedom.  Fortunately these issues aren’t impossible to negotiate, but they’re a firm reminder of just how different the government’s approach to information is.  Thus already my trip has been fruitful in expanding my understanding of issues I’ve discussed often in the past.

Several of my closest peers in the Democracy & Governance program are students visiting from China and I hope that this trip also serves as an opportunity to learn about the homeland of those I study beside.  To that end I’d certainly appreciate any suggestions on places to visit or subjects to focus on while I wander.  For now that’s it, after flying around the planet I think some rest would be in order.