Browsing articles tagged with " China"
Governance Institutions
Jul 23, 2011
Imara
2 Comments

Propaganda and the Power of Words

One thing I might never have expected to be reinforced by my travels across China was my understanding of the importance of language and definitions.  Particularly in propaganda or other materials meant to motivate and influence the tides of public discourse.  Visiting varied museums on China’s modern history I found myself surprised time and again to see references to democracy among the praises of what the CCP brought to the populace.
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Asia and Pacific Democracy Development Economics Governance Technology
Jul 11, 2011
Imara
No Comments

Governance, Development and the Speed of Change

I will soon be departing Nanjing for Suzhou and Wuhan, the next stops on my meandering trail across China.  I’m not sure what all there is to be said about Nanjing, the city is gorgeous and distinctly different from anywhere I’ve been so far in life.  It is also distinctly “Chinese”, offering a rich blend of opportunities to observe ancient Chinese history as well as the nation’s more recent experiences.  From the memorial of Sun Yat Sen and the Ming Tombs to the modern history housed in the Presidential Palace, Nanjing has exposed me to much that I couldn’t have picked up from a textbook.
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Governance Technology
Jul 2, 2011
Imara
1 Comment

Discussions of Repression

Interestingly in just the first few days here in China I’ve found a host of opportunities for conversation on issues of Chinese governance, few of which I’ve even had to instigate.  At least here in Shanghai politics seems every bit as relevant a subject of discussion as it is in the states, if not much more so.  Yesterday I learned, purely as a result of the absurd congestion on the metro that it was the 90th anniversary of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).  I was thoroughly pleased by the unexpected and spirited discussions of the party’s successes and failings over the decades.  It was very nice to have people assume that I’m aware of world politics as a result of recognizing me as American, I’m used to quite the opposite.
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Asia and Pacific
Jul 1, 2011
Imara
No Comments

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.
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Asia and Pacific Democracy Governance Human Rights U.S. Foreign Policy
Apr 26, 2011
Imara
1 Comment

Continued US/China Human Rights Clashes

Human rights violations for better or worse play a central role  in human history and are a fairly constant issue around the world.  Now and again these ethical challenges spill into the public view for long enough to earn the focus of news discussion for a bit.  The recent issues in the Middle East have provided a fairly lasting spotlight shifting from one nation to another as authoritarian leaders attempt to crack down on uprisings and dissent.   These uprisings set an interesting stage for the human rights discussions scheduled later this week between United States and China.  There are few subjects the two nations are more fiercely in disagreement over than human rights, each state makes quite the habit of critiquing the human rights abuses of the other, often muddying the issue of humanitarian concerns into one of political manipulation.  In either nation, no matter how you slice it, these are difficult times to preach human rights from a policy maker’s point of view.
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Founded in 2004, Democracy and Society is a biannual print journal published by the Center for Democracy and Civil Society at Georgetown University. The D&S Blog provides web-only content, including special reports and investigative series, on issues relating to democracy and development.

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