Jeffrey N. Wasserstrom est un historien social et culturel chinois contemporain, qui relie le passé de la Chine à son présent et les situe dans une perspective comparative et globale. Son travail explore un large éventail de sujets, du genre et de la révolution aux droits de l'homme et au changement urbain. Wasserstrom se concentre sur le lien entre les événements historiques et leurs impacts contemporains, ainsi que sur la perspective internationale du développement chinois. Ses analyses offrent des aperçus profonds sur la dynamique de la société et de la culture chinoises.
Exploring contemporary Chinese society through the lens of historical figures, the narrative juxtaposes Chairman Mao's ideology with modern cultural phenomena, such as the Librairie Avant-Garde bookstore's focus on Western philosophy. It questions the significance of Western consumerism, exemplified by ordering a latte at Starbucks in Beijing, and suggests that Aldous Huxley's works may offer deeper insights into the complexities of post-Tiananmen China and post-9/11 America than Orwell's 1984.
Jeffrey Wasserstrom offers a fully updated and revised edition of his popular introdution to China, providing cogent answers to the most urgent questions regarding modern China, and a framework for understanding its meteoric rise.
Focusing on the historical evolution of Shanghai, this book examines its transformation from a treaty port in the 1840s to its role in hosting the 2010 World's Fair. It delves into the interplay of international forces and ideas that have shaped the city's identity over time. This insightful narrative is ideal for students and scholars in Chinese and urban studies, as well as anyone intrigued by Shanghai's rich history.
The need to understand this global giant has never been more China is constantly in the news, yet conflicting impressions abound. Within one generation, China has transformed from an impoverished, repressive state into an economic and political powerhouse. In China in the 21st What Everyone Needs to Know , Jeffrey Wasserstrom provides cogent answers to the most urgent questions regarding the newest superpower and offers a framework for understanding its meteoric rise.Focusing his answers through the historical legacies--Western and Japanese imperialism, the Mao era, and the massacre near Tiananmen Square--that largely define China's present-day trajectory, Wasserstrom introduces readers to the Chinese Communist Party, the building boom in Shanghai, and theenvironmental fall-out of rapid Chinese industrialization. He also explains unique aspects of Chinese culture such as the one-child policy, and provides insight into how Chinese view Americans.Wasserstrom reveals that China today shares many traits with other industrialized nations during their periods of development, in particular the United States during its rapid industrialization in the 19th century. Finally, he provides guidance on the ways we can expect China to act in the futurevis-à-vis the United States, Russia, India, and its East Asian neighbors.
This lavishly illustrated volume explores the history of China from the founding of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1912) through to the present day. Essential reading for anyone who wants to understand this rising superpower on the verge of what promises to be the 'Chinese century'