Customer Reviews

China's New Nationalism: Pride, Politics, and Diplomacy (Philip E. Lilienthal Books)

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3 star:		(1)
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1 star:		(1)

 

 

A Better Approach, An Excellent Work, a Little Outdated

After reading this book I will be looking for future works by its author (Peter Gries).

There are dozens of books I could have chosen on this topic. I chose China's new nationalism by peter Gries because his approach is superior to the approach used by most books, because his approach is less subject to bias or misinterpretation, than that used by the others.

Most books calculate the rise or fall of Chinese nationalism according to such things as
The number of Chinese spies caught in the US and the rise or fall in the careers of outspoken Chinese Nationalists such as Gen. Zhu Chenghu and Gen. Peng Guangqian. But more (or fewer) spies being caught is a reflection of the FBI's efficacy, not the rise or fall in tide of Chinese Nationalism, and careers of those like Zhu and Peng can rise or fall for many reasons. (their careers might even rise if they "swear off" nationalism and join the Chinese mainstream.

Authors who rely on the above evidence can bend it to say whatever they want.

For that reason, Gries' approach, which looks more at phenomena such as student demonstrations, Chinese Wall Posters, editorials and movies allowed in the Chinese media,
is a better gauge of whether nationalism in China is part of the mainstream or a small non-threatening wing such as exists in every country.

The only downside to the book is that the material is a little bit dated. Published in 2003 it contains little or no material more current than 2000 or 2001 and nearly all of it focuses on 1997-1999.

If you area serious student of Chinese politics you MUST own Gries' book. But to be truly relevant to today, his book should be updated.

Prof. Gries has provided a useful text for illustrating his main point -- that Chinese nationalism is not a strictly top-down, Communist Party driven phenomenon, but rather that there is interplay between Party elites, intellectuals, populist writers, and even foreigners that together shape Chinese identity, and thus Chinese nationalism.

Repeatedly discussing the NATO bombing of China's embassy in Belgrade and the 2001 mid-air collision between an American spy plane and a Chinese fighter jet, Gries shows how Chinese and American observers see the same handful of major events in completely different terms, and how this leads to misunderstanding and mistrust. And he relies on theories from psychology and the concept of "face" to explain why this may be -- some of which are quite compelling.

The book is well researched and well written, and Gries' knowledge of the Chinese language certainly provides insights that would be missed by China scholars and journalists confined to English language sources.

People concerned with Sino-American relations will benefit from reading this book even if only to become aware of the contrast in Chinese and American perceptions. Since reading the book, I've found myself considering how policy makers and leaders would be most effective in dealing with China. Based on what Gries suggests drives destructive nationalism, it's tempting to think perhaps convenient fictions and flattery might go a long way in facilitating dialogue between our countries.

If one wants to understand Chinese nationalism, this book is a must read. While I noticed that one reviewer thought the book had an anti-US bias, it's very difficult to explain the reasons behind Chinese nationalism without taking on that tone.

Professor Gries's China's New Nationalism may be more appropriately titled Nationalist Narratives in Contemporary China: A Literary Critique. The author draws his primary resources from a variety of Chinese- and English-language newspapers, popular magazines, movies, tv shows, pamphlets, posters, etc. The book, though well-intended, is written more like a literary criticism than a serious discussion of China's political, economic, or social problems. Students of Chinese studies or policy makers who are seriously interested in Sino-American relations will not gain substantive knowledge from reading this book.

The book gives a good review of how China perceives the western power. The book goes further to show the relationships between Japan and the United States and how the economies pushed out China of world trade and future growth.

The book gives lots of detail and facts but is a slow read, and is written with a harsh slant against the United States, blaming the US for numerous problems in China.

Overall, there are lots of good facts but you have to read it with a grain of salt.

Matthew Hull
Columbus, Ohio

i have not yet receive this item. it has been over 4 weeks. amazon should only shipped through priority mail.

East will be East; West will be West. despite the book's best intentions, the author's interpretation of Chinese nationalism comes off laughable. which Chinese still thinks of Chinese-foreign relations in terms of "father-son" relationships? Did this guy talk to any Chinese at all? or maybe a Mandarin from the Manchu Dynasty?

Of course I read the whole book and was aware that he grew up in China. And that IS the sad part: if someone like him has such a simplistic understanding of China and Chinese nationalism, what can be expected of other commentators in the West on China? No wonder they often get even more wrong. Of course growing up in China is no guarantee - he could have just grown up in an international quarter with expats. In all, it's a book for Western taste that NO Chinese will find a grain of truth or take seriously. Sad Western scholarship, and published by a good university press. This book can serve as good propaganda piece for China to show how the West gets it wrong, because it is so obviously wrong.