What is it like to be a Westerner teaching political philosophy
in an officially Marxist state? Why do Chinese sex workers sing
karaoke with their customers? And why do some Communist Party
cadres get promoted if they care for their elderly parents? In this
entertaining and illuminating book, one of the few Westerners to
teach at a Chinese university draws on his personal experiences to
paint an unexpected portrait of a society undergoing faster and
more sweeping changes than anywhere else on earth. With a
storyteller's eye for detail, Daniel Bell observes the rituals,
routines, and tensions of daily life in China. "China's New
Confucianism" makes the case that as the nation retreats from
communism, it is embracing a new Confucianism that offers a
compelling alternative to Western liberalism.
Bell provides an insider's account of Chinese culture and, along
the way, debunks a variety of stereotypes. He presents the
startling argument that Confucian social hierarchy can actually
"contribute" to economic equality in China. He covers such diverse
social topics as sex, sports, and the treatment of domestic
workers. He considers the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, wondering
whether Chinese overcompetitiveness might be tempered by Confucian
civility. And he looks at education in China, showing the ways
Confucianism impacts his role as a political theorist and
teacher.
By examining the challenges that arise as China adapts ancient
values to contemporary society, "China's New Confucianism" enriches
the dialogue of possibilities available to this rapidly evolving
nation.
In a new preface, Bell discusses the challenges of promoting
Confucianism in China and the West.
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