How did feminism take root in China? Rebecca E. Karl sheds light on early sources of feminism, and explains why “liberation talk” prevents us from understanding the role of women in today’s society. – by Sabine Hinrichs and David Lenz
Every winter Chinese authorities receive numerous online complaints related to heating. In the past, central policies ignored complex local conditions. The desire of local leaders to reach their performance targets has added fuel to the problem. How did this situation come about? How did local governments respond? And why are environmental and energy goals so difficult to integrate? – by Jenny Li Jie
The new word “neijuan” (involution) has become popular in everyday Chinese. It refers to the fierce competition in labour markets and in the education system, and is a central part of the debate around China’s hyper-competitive culture. – by Konstantin Kladensky
The 1949 Soviet film “Cossacks of the Kuban” was an instant success both in the Soviet Union and in the newly founded People’s Republic of China. The film’s popularity was a result of Sino-Soviet cooperation and waned just when relations between the states deteriorated. Today, the film is largely forgotten in China, but its songs are still sung. – by Stefan Wackerlig
This year, China watchers are especially excited: As the Chinese Communist Party celebrates its 100th anniversary, a new version of party history was officially released. What did General Secretary Xi Jinping make of it? The 2021 history of China’s ruling party is a propaganda piece, but it is controversial and still worth looking at. – by Sabine Hinrichs
On May 31st, 2021, China announced the end of its two-child policy, now setting the limit at three children in an attempt to increase birth rates. Although this shift brings a relaxation of family planning policies, the Chinese government is still deeply involved in the reproductive freedom of women in China. – by Tinkara Godec
What role do intellectuals play in Chinese society? How can they make themselves heard and how does the political leadership react to them? In an interview with Timothy Cheek, we talked about intellectual voices in Chinese society and discussed historical comparisons. – by Sabine Hinrichs and David Lenz
Many have compared the current Chinese president Xi Jinping to Mao Zedong, founder of the People’s Republic of China. But how similar are these Chinese leaders really? We talked to Timothy Cheek, professor at the University of British Columbia. – by Sabine Hinrichs and David Lenz
Stereotypes are crude. Yet, they safeguard us from drowning in an ocean of complexity. Especially with regards to China, to peek behind the veils of stereotypes can be unsettling. But it also means to dive below the surface and to resist the temptation of oversimplification. In this sense, I would like to invite you to an act of resistance. – by Lukas Knoflach
Sinologists struggle with the question “What is China?” The political talk show “This is China” claims to know the answer. By drawing on the past, it emphasizes China’s uniqueness, and promotes the so-called “China Model” in order to boost the national confidence of the domestic audiences in the current leadership. – by Konstantin Kladensky
