China in the Age of Xi Jinping

by Michael Dillon

Overview

This book presents a concise introduction to China in the Xi Jinping era. It is intended as a first book for those coming new to the subject, providing the essential information that most people need to know, without going into excessive detail. Its coverage includes the economy, society, politics, and international relations; China's history, especially the twentieth century; and Taiwan and Hong Kong, as well as the People's Republic of China. It will also be useful for more advanced students who need to understand developments in China outside their own primary disciplines.

The book provides an up-to-date and clear guide to the changes which have taken place in China in the late twentieth and early twenty-first centuries, including the recent further changes which are taking place under Xi Jinping’s regime. It draws on the enormous body of empirical and theoretical research that is being carried out by economists, political scientists, and sociologists on China, but is itself written in non-technical and accessible language. It does not assume any previous knowledge of China and explanations of Chinese terms are provided throughout the book. It includes a map, a chronology, a glossary of Chinese terms, biographical notes on key figures, and a guide to further reading.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780367347901
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	04/30/2021
Pages:	410
Product dimensions:	6.88(w) x 9.69(h) x (d)

About the Author

Michael Dillon is Professor of History and Affiliate of the Lau China Centre at King’s College, London. He was formerly Director of the Centre for Contemporary Chinese Studies at the University of Durham and Visiting Professor at Tsinghua University, Beijing. He is the author of Contemporary China – An Introduction (Routledge 2009).

Table of Contents

Preface vii

Acknowledgements xii

Chronology xiv

Part 1 Introduction 1

1 Land, people, and culture 3

2 China's past in the present 10

Part 2 Politics 21

3 Government and politics of China 23

4 Seeking a harmonious society: fourth-generation leadership of Hu Jintao and Wen Jiabao 48

5 Murder and corruption in the leadership: Bo Xilai and Zhou Yongkang 55

6 Rise of Xi Jinping: fifth generation or new authoritarianism? 61

Part 3 The economy 87

7 Economic growth and the changing economy 89

8 Rural economy 96

9 Urban and industrial economy 112

10 Banking, finance, and foreign trade 117

11 Tourism and transport 126

12 Western development 131

13 Belt and Road Initiative 144

Part 4 Society 149

14 Social change: rural reforms and urbanisation 151

15 Education and health 158

16 Law and human rights 179

17 Mass media 195

18 Religious and ethnic minorities 203

19 Gender and modernisation 223

20 The environment 229

Part 5 China's periphery 239

21 Tibet 241

22 Xinjiang 252

23 Inner Mongolia 266

24 Hong Kong 271

25 Taiwan 299

Part 6 International relations 311

26 China and the world 1 : strategic relationships 313

27 China and the world 2: neighbours to the west 347

Part 7 Prospects: struggle between two new lines 363

28 After Xi: harmonious society or new authoritarianism? 365

List of abbreviations 369

Glossary of selected Chinese terms 370

Biographical notes 373

Index 380