FREE ESSAY ON CONTEMPORARY CHINA

CONTEMPORARY CHINA

Contemporary China
The Republic of China has undergone many dramatic changes within a relatively short
period of time. After centuries operating in the relative stability of Confucian ideals
and tradition, Chinese society has been bombarded by the inflow of western ideals and
commercialism. In his book Streetlife China, Michael Dutton makes observations concerning
contemporary Chinese society and discusses the problems and advantages rapid economic
development has brought upon China. Dutton's view on contemporary China is that of a
society whose historical ideology contradicts the product of a capitalistic society.
Dutton believes that Chinese society is conflicted between traditional ideals and modern
desires. The mind-set and life goals of Chinese individuals are changing with
modernization, and Chinese society as a whole has been overwhelmed and unable to handle
the rapid transition it is undergoing. Dutton uses many vivid observations of everyday
life in modern day China, to support his views.
Dutton begins his writing by discussing the idea of human rights. He states, "It is true
that, traditionally, the concept of human rights did not exist in China." (Dutton, 23).
He explains that this was not to say that human rights were ignored. This is not the
result of years of repression that has made it impossible to practice human rights, but
quite the contrary, the spirit of traditional Chinese society makes the idea of
guaranteed human rights unnecessary. "I think that the humanitarian and harmonious spirit
that human rights embodies was not only present in traditional Chinese society, but that
it was quite bountiful. If anything was lacking, it was the spirit of a rule of law,"
(Dutton 24). Chinese culture traditionally stressed kindness and selflessness. It was
considered moral and commendable to have other's best interest at heart. In order to gain
respect within the community and the family, one in traditional Chinese society would
strive to maintain harmony in interpersonal relationships. . 
Traditional Chinese society stressed great importance to relations within the family and
community. Every body had a role within the community and family. It was considered the
duty of every individual to fulfill their role in order to benefit others. "Every
person's character was defined by their social relations, moreover the individual
belonged to and served the collective," (Dutton, 29). An example of such relations is
given in the case of the Chinese work units. The work unit serves as a family in the
workplace. In many ways it is as restrictive as a family in that you have little choice
in which work unit you join and you cannot switch work units or move up within one.
However people find solace in them because it is like a family and one feels a sense of
belonging which is necessary in a society that functions through people's desires to help
others. For Chinese, the work unit is their very own big round table. People care for and
love their fellow worker; they are no longer friendless and wretched since they are
always surrounded by those they know. Dutton claims in such a society could not function
if the individuals were preoccupied by ideas of human rights.
With the beginning of foreign trade in the Qing dynasty, the Chinese were wary of foreign
ideologies and felt it was important to maintain China's identity. The leaders of China
felt it was necessary to trade with and accept the technology of the foreigners in order
to strengthen China. At the same time they did not want the inflow of Western ideals and
wanted to maintain their culture. As a result contact with foreign countries were
restricted and China has historically been a rather reclusive nation. However the gradual
(and more recently, rapid) inflow of western ideas have changed the landscape of China.
"Gone are the traditional traders old... These days, the flow of traffic in Qianmen is
heading the other way. Consumers in their tens of thousands gravitate to Qianmen and its
surrounds, and it is they who constitute the traffic in the busy and over-crowded
streets," (Dutton, 1). The inflow of western ideas have made it in many cases impossible
for China to maintain its traditional identity and not only changed its landscape but
also the mind-set of its society.
The rapid commercialization of contemporary China has proven incompatible with
traditional Chinese culture. The desire to consume, to gain more capital, to improve
one's position in life has replaced the traditional desire to maintain filial piety and
fulfill one's role in society. "Because the traditional conception of self is so dim, it
is only within a life built around human inter-relationships that Chinese people feel
comfortable. From the traditional Chinese perspective individuality is invariably a
pejorative term," (Dutton, 46). With the coming commercialization and Western ideas, the
foundation of Chinese society, the desire to contribute to the society, the desire to be
selfless, and find comfort in others is becoming obsolete. Ironically, with the coming of
western culture, the idea of human rights in practice is being encroached upon, as the
traditional Chinese society is not compatible to the individual demand for human rights.
. 
The commercialization of Chinese society has brought about a new class of citizens.
Traditionally Chinese citizens have been tied to their land. Benefits from the government
were received according to where you resided. People living in a city received greater
benefits than those living in the country. Also citizens in rural areas were considered
of less stature due to the benefits received and general level of education. The
standards of living were significantly better in the cities. With commercialization in
the cities more and more people from the rural areas of China began migrating to the
cities in hopes to make money and better their status in life.. Once in the cities, many
of these migrants turn to a life of crime. In general they are considered "vagrants" and
" hooligans", (Dutton, 63). Dutton comments, "The deteriorating security situation in
contemporary China has important lessons and offers some previously unknown challenges to
the law in the People's Republic. The economic reform process has inadvertently led to a
crime wave," (Dutton, 68). These migrants come to the city oftentimes live in horrible
conditions in hopes to achieve wealth and status. When they do not find it, many migrants
feel they have nothing to lose, so they turn to a life of crime in their desire to
consume. "When peasants first enter the city, all they can do is feel envious, inferior
and impatient. This even reaches the point where they develop a hate complex. This
complex not only prevents them from gradually entering into city life, but can even lead
them into crime," (Dutton, 87). This mentality is a far cry from the traditional
Confucian notion of filial piety. 
The Chinese government has tried many methods to control the migration to the city and
the resulting crime. Severe penalties were levied to offenders of serious crimes.
Identity cards were issued to all citizens of China in order to establish place of
residency of each individual citizen. Many non-legal residents of cities were expelled
from the city. Higher taxes were levied to residents of urban areas. (Dutton, 80-140).
However the peasants still came in droves to try to improve their station in life and
become a part of the consumer world. 
The westernization of China has brought about significant change in Chinese society.
Michael Dutton paints a poignant picture of contemporary Chinese society, a society still
very much rooted in old traditions struggling to incorporate commercialism into their
culture. Contemporary Chinese society still faces many problems due to the innate
contradiction of their traditional values and the ideology of a consumer driven society.

Bibliography
Michael Dutton, Streetlife China