Modern China: A Very Short IntroductionChina today is never out of the news: from human rights controversies and the continued legacy of Tiananmen Square, to global coverage of the Beijing Olympics, and the Chinese 'economic miracle'. It seems a country of contradictions: a peasant society with some of the world's most futuristic cities, heir to an ancient civilization that is still trying to find a modern identity. This Very Short Introduction offers the reader with no previous knowledge of China a variety of ways to understand the world's most populous nation, giving a short, integrated picture of modern Chinese society, culture, economy, politics and art. ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable. |
Contents
| 1 | |
2 The old order and the new | 17 |
3 Making China modern | 40 |
4 Is Chinese society modern? | 74 |
5 Is Chinas economy modern? | 102 |
6 Is Chinese culture modern? | 118 |
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20th century agricultural Ah Q areas assumptions became become Beijing central Chapter Chen Chiang Kaishek China modern China's economy modern Chinese culture modern Chinese government Chinese politics Chinese society modern Chongqing Communists Confucian contemporary corruption countryside crisis Cultural Revolution decades declared democracy Deng Xiaoping early 20th century elite films foreign Fourth Movement freedom fuelled global growth hierarchies Hong Kong idea industrial influence Japan Japanese late Qing leader lives Lu Xun mainland Mao Zedong Mao's China militarist million Ming Modern China Nanjing Nationalist government Nonetheless notable official old order Olympics particular party Peking University People's Republic period popular population premodern programme province Qing dynasty Red Guards reform role rural Shanghai significant social Soviet Sun Yatsen SuperGirl Taiping Taiwan television Tian'anmen Square traditional urban USSR Wang warlord West women Yuan Yuan Shikai Zhang