This paper reviews Jeffrey Wasserstrom's "China in the 21st Century - What Everyone Needs to Know," exploring how historical legacies, particularly Confucianism and dynastic governance, shape contemporary Chinese society and politics. The review examines the book's treatment of modern China's hybrid economic system, the digital divide and internet censorship, and regional diversity often oversimplified in Western media. The paper evaluates how the book addresses misconceptions about China while discussing its future influence on global affairs, noting that certain topics, particularly internet access and the Great Firewall, warrant deeper analysis than the author provides.
China already stands as an enormous player on the international stage, and its power and relevance are predicted to continue growing into the future. Despite China's importance, many in the West view China as something of a mystery. The culture and government organization differ substantially from most of the rest of the world, making China seem somewhat unfamiliar to Western audiences who receive information only in fragments from media sources.
Jeffrey Wasserstrom's China in the 21st Century - What Everyone Needs to Know is written to provide interested individuals with a comprehensive background on factors that define China as a nation and culture. The book begins by describing historical legacies relevant to contemporary China. To understand today's China, it is crucial to know something about its past (Wasserstrom, 2010). The book opens with Confucius and outlines how Confucianism and its history influence Chinese society today. The Chinese government has even developed "Confucius Institutes" around the world to spread an understanding of its cultural legacy internationally.
The book also covers the role of early dynasties in shaping the modern nation of China. One enduring feature of this legacy was the central political role played not just by the monarch but also by members of his (and, rarely, her) family. Some have attributed to this historical pattern the fact that China largely maintains a more authoritarian government in the contemporary period (Wasserstrom, 2010). Yet the extent of authoritarianism in China is often exaggerated in contemporary Western media today.
The modern-day system of government in China is difficult to define, and the book emphasizes these points well. The country has a unique way of blurring capitalistic and socialistic elements in both government and the private sectors. China's economic boom has been fueled by entrepreneurial activity and foreign investment, yet large state-run enterprises not only remain in operation but continue to be a major force within the overall economy (Wasserstrom, 2010).
The diversity within such a large nation is also largely misunderstood and oversimplified in the West. There are many different opinions and regional divides present within China that Western analysis often fails to acknowledge. The Chinese media system is also widely misunderstood in the West. The Chinese media generally tries to promote positive images on the news, whereas the Western media is known for focusing on negative issues and controversies. This fundamental difference in media approach shapes how each region perceives the other.
One of the most interesting subjects in modern Chinese society is the existence of what is referred to as the digital divide and how internet access could affect society in the future. In China, the digital divide can be defined as the gap between people who have access to the internet and those who do not. Furthermore, China's censorship of the internet, or the "Great Firewall of China" as some refer to it, is also an interesting and consequential subject. These topics represent critical areas of social change in contemporary China.
"Media bias and oversimplified understanding in the West"
The most interesting aspects of the book deal with the present and future of China and how its power and influence will play out in world affairs. Topics in the second half of the book address many current misconceptions of China in the West as well as how China's rise to superpower status will influence global affairs into the future. Wasserstrom effectively challenges simplified narratives about Chinese governance, economics, and society that dominate Western discourse.
You’re 64% through this paper. Sign up to read the remaining 1 section.
Sign Up Now — Instant Access Already a member? Log inAlways verify citation format against your institution’s current style guide requirements.