When US President George W. Bush became the 374th foreign leader to
climb the Badaling Section of the Great Wall in February 2002 he
spoke of the wall standing still and of a present day China very
different from that of the past. A changing China has been
attracting the attention of the world over the past ten years or
so.
The 16th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC)
will be held in Beijing this fall. It will put forward guidelines
for China's future development and will represent a milestone in
the history of the progress of the Chinese nation.
To
help readers better understand the real significance of the
congress, Beijing Youth Daily, in cooperation with the
Humanity and Social Sciences Research Center of the Chinese Academy
of Social Sciences, invited 16 scholars to report on conditions in
China. Their responses tell of fundamental changes as viewed from
the perspectives of their various academic fields. In reviewing the
past ten years they have dealt frankly with the problems
encountered on the road to reform.
How far has China developed in the last decade? What changes have
taken place in the social structure? What influences will these
changes exert on individuals? What are the opinions people express
about their conditions and what are they really like? What
opportunities and difficulties lie in store in the years ahead? All
these were topics for the scholars. So what did they report? This
article provides an insight into some of the areas analyzed by the
scholars in their review of a decade of change in Chinese values
and thinking.
Reform, Opening-up and Market Economy
There have been two watersheds in the history of China's social
development since its foundation in 1949.
The first was the Third Plenary of the 11th National Congress of
the CPC in 1978. This established the policies of reform and
opening-up. Along the road to development, China has seen evolution
from an agricultural to an industrial economy, from a rural to an
urban people and from a traditional society restricted by etiquette
and custom to a modern society subject to the rule of law.
Modernization has become the main theme of social development and
long held attitudes have been changing.
The second watershed, which helped to further liberate thinking,
was late leader Deng Xiaoping's "South Tour" speech at the
beginning of the 1990s. Deng's speech removed the fetters that had
been holding back innovation and reform and provided a new standard
against which to measure progress in social development. At the
14th National Congress of the CPC in 1992 the goal of a socialist
market economy was set. This sparked a new round of reform in China
and economic, social and cultural development leading in turn to
new ways of thinking.
Since reform and opening-up and especially after Deng's "South
Tour" speech, the people of China have experienced fundamental
changes in what makes them what they are. The focus on values has
moved from ideals to practical things, from obligations to
interests and from the collective to the individual.
This is a culture, which had once been closed but is now open.
There has been a move from the emotional to the rational and from
sameness to diversification. The mood of the people is now one of
tolerance and pragmatism and there is a new willingness to consider
alternatives.
Small Streams Run Dry When the Main Stream Is Low
At
one time the Chinese placed the emphasis on the interests of the
group rather than on the wishes of the individual. However a recent
survey reveals that values have been changing somewhat. The
research explored opinion on the issue of "what to do when
collective interests are in conflict with individual
interests."
Some 30 percent of those surveyed responded by saying "individual
interests should be subordinated unconditionally to collective
interests." A further 58 percent said, "collective interests are
important but individual interests must not be ignored." Another 5
percent said, "individual interests are important but collective
interests must be considered" and 2 percent thought "collective
interests should be subordinated unconditionally to individual
interests" while others declined to give an opinion. The results
demonstrated that collective interests are still highly valued by
most people. However a rather higher value is now placed on the
individual than would previously have been the case.
The survey also inquired into views on giving and taking. Responses
showed most people seek to establish a balance demonstrating a
willingness to find personal fulfillment in working for
society.
In
dealing with their relationships with others, some 45 percent
approved the principle of "benefiting oneself but not harming
others." Thirty-three percent agree with "putting others before
self." Twenty-one percent said they would "put themselves before
others, while taking into account the interests of both sides."
Only 1 percent chose to "ignore others while benefiting oneself."
These results suggest the market economy has stirred motives of
self-awareness and self-interest. Many people now favor seeking the
win-win option of mutual benefit to themselves and others.
All very reminiscent of the Chinese saying, "The small streams run
dry when the main stream is low." Words which serve well to
illustrate that individual well being, depends on collective
prosperity.
Inspired by Pavel Korchagin but Following Bill Gates
A
TV series adapted from How the Steel Was Tempered by Nikolai
Ostrovsky was broadcast by China Central TV in 2000. It stimulated
a remarkable response throughout China and the media picked up on
this by launching a debate to compare Pavel Korchagin with Bill
Gates. Both were regarded as heroes but one as a spiritual idol and
the other an icon of the material world.
A
survey undertaken in the colleges and universities of Beijing shows
that some 45 percent of students view both Bill and Pavel as
heroes. A further 20 percent chose Bill on his own and 18 percent
opted for Pavel. As to the question of "Who's example will you
follow," the split was 44 percent for Bill, 27 percent for both
together but just 13 percent for Pavel on his own.
These young people adopted Bill Gates as their model to emulate for
reasons relating to society, economy and culture coupled with
aspirations for their own development. But they are still inspired
by the spirit of Pavel Korchagin. This holds a mirror to the
characteristics of modern youth. Their hearts may be drawn to a
soaring spirit but their feet are firmly on the ground when it
comes to material values.
Another investigation revealed the order in which Beijing teenagers
placed six "admirable" occupations as scientist, entrepreneur,
movie or TV star, soldier, teacher and model worker. But when asked
to grade them as occupations for themselves the order was
different. This time it was entrepreneur, scientist, movie or TV
star, teacher, soldier and model worker. This serves to further
demonstrate a gap between ideals and practicalities.
The second part of this review will be published here
tomorrow.
(China.org.cn by Li Jinhui, September 28, 2002)