The Mosuo people, in their villages on the border with Tibet, are a culture in the midst of fading away.
Ethnic Han from the cities, hearing about the alleged "free love" attitudes of the Mosuo, are making their holidays there in droves, bringing money and "big city" thinking with them.
The Han ignorance of how Mosuo society functions has created no small amount of friction with the locals, and some young Mosuo are being drawn out of the villages to seek their fortunes in the cities.
What we're seeing is societal evolution in action. The Mosuo seem to be doing a good job of holding onto their cultural identity, so I doubt they'll be completely assimilated.
Thursday, April 24, 2008
"Don't Rock the Boat, Baby..."
How should the US view China’s developing relations with her neighbors? Should the US modify its foreign policy toward these same nations in light of their changing relations with China?
China's relations with its neighbors are going a long way to promote stability in a region that has been known to be rather volatile.
Stability is a Good Thing™. Don't screw it up (I'm lookin' at you, America!)
China's relations with its neighbors are going a long way to promote stability in a region that has been known to be rather volatile.
Stability is a Good Thing™. Don't screw it up (I'm lookin' at you, America!)
Sunday, April 20, 2008
Throwing a bone to minorities...
Another blast from the the past: the English edition of the People's Daily Online, from October 2007.
http://english.people.com.cn/90001/90776/6291719.html
It looks like the central government has finally determined that there is a shortage of minorities in government positions. From the article:
'"The number of leading cadres from minorities has been increasing in recent years, but many of them are in politics with few in professional posts from hi-technology, economy and enterprise management," said Zhang Xiangji, director of the personnel department of the commission.'
The government proposes to provide high-level education to promising minority cadres.
Well, it's about time, folks! If you had been doing this sort of thing all along you wouldn't have this shortage in the first place!
:: facepalm ::
http://english.people.com.cn/90001/90776/6291719.html
It looks like the central government has finally determined that there is a shortage of minorities in government positions. From the article:
'"The number of leading cadres from minorities has been increasing in recent years, but many of them are in politics with few in professional posts from hi-technology, economy and enterprise management," said Zhang Xiangji, director of the personnel department of the commission.'
The government proposes to provide high-level education to promising minority cadres.
Well, it's about time, folks! If you had been doing this sort of thing all along you wouldn't have this shortage in the first place!
:: facepalm ::
Sunday, April 6, 2008
Working conditions in China...
This week's blog assignment asks:
"How has the material covered thus far in the course changed or reshaped your viewpoint on an issue that previously received frequent coverage in the media?"
Truth be known, my viewpoint on working conditions in China hasn't changed particularly from what it has been for the bulk of my adult life (that's 24 years for those keeping count...): those conditions are still profoundly crappy, if slightly less crappy than they used to be.
"How has the material covered thus far in the course changed or reshaped your viewpoint on an issue that previously received frequent coverage in the media?"
Truth be known, my viewpoint on working conditions in China hasn't changed particularly from what it has been for the bulk of my adult life (that's 24 years for those keeping count...): those conditions are still profoundly crappy, if slightly less crappy than they used to be.
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