Zhang Weiwei (author of The China Wave, translator for Deng Xiaoping) on Talk to Al Jazeera.
Weiwei’s response to the human rights issue was interesting. But I’ll have to listen to this interview a few more times before I can articulate a response. Something else to review might be Slavoj Zizek’s critique of Capitalism with Asian values.
I am of course biased, but I’ve been hoping for Europe to play a stronger leadership role along with China — and I don’t like WeiWei’s lumping of America and Europe. Politically and economically the two are very different. Of course France’s AAA to AA+ downgrade and upcoming elections in both France and the US don’t help either.
The current situation in Iran is our first test — and it will be interesting to see how everyone plays their parts. … Will India remain inwardly focused? How will the Arab Spring shape political aid to Pakistan, Bangladesh, Palestine?
Isn’t it time our leaders stop meeting via G8, G20, etc. and allowed the UN to play a bigger role? China, France and the US both have a place on the United Nations Security Council as permanent members…
I guess my question is: where does European socialism (and the welfare state, which itself; given austerity measures, is in question) fit into a America’s affinity to supply side economics and China’s odd mix of the deification of Mao and praise of Marxism-Leninism while executing Singaporean style (though more corrupt) hyper-capitalism.
If I want to play a part in this debate I can’t expect it on my terms (in English or German), but should at least make the attempt to learn some Mandarin. A better understanding of Chinese history (and Russian/Eastern European 20th Century History) would probably help too…
