Reading List: 5 Books to Understand Modern China

Many domestic politicians and commentators assert that China’s primary focus is its economy, with economic development being the central goal of the political leadership. According to Yasheng Huang’s meticulously researched study, however, many commonly accepted notions about China’s economy lack a solid foundation. Through a comprehensive examination, Huang reveals the intricacies and contradictions that belie the prevailing narratives.

In a detailed analysis, Huang scrutinizes Shanghai, often hailed as a symbol of entrepreneurialism and commercial success. Contrary to popular belief, he illustrates how the city’s economy is predominantly state-directed, with significant reliance on illegitimate practices, such as the contentious land acquisition during the development of Pudong in the 1990s. Moreover, Huang highlights the city’s environmental vulnerabilities, including its inadequate water supply and precarious foundation on marshland, which raises concerns about the stability of its numerous skyscrapers.

By meticulously dissecting data and statistics, Huang exposes the discrepancies between official interpretations and the underlying realities. His book offers a captivating and nuanced exploration of the Chinese economy, transcending simplistic GDP figures to uncover the complex and potentially unsettling truths beneath.

No Enemies, No Hatred: Selected Essays and Poems, Liu Xiaobo, Belknap, Harvard, 2012

Liu gained prominence due to his imprisonment in 2009 for advocating for increased freedoms and democracy in China through Charter 08, as well as receiving the Nobel Prize in 2010. This collection showcases his impressive analytical prowess, offering a rare firsthand account from a Chinese writer within the country. Liu delves into the cultural and moral complexities that China grapples with following decades of Maoist ideology and subsequent material development under Deng Xiaoping.

His essays dissect the world of government officials, where public authority intertwines with personal interests, transitioning from the formalities of daytime offices to the extravagance of nocturnal nightclubs. While often laced with humor, Liu’s observations pose profound questions about the true objectives of the Chinese Communist Party and its people. This book serves as a poignant testament to why authorities sought to silence Liu through imprisonment.

From the Soil: The Foundations of Chinese Society, Fei Xiaotong, University of California Press, 1992

Trained at the London School of Economics in the 1930s, Fei returned to China to pioneer the field of sociology, enduring the tumultuous twists of Chinese politics until his passing in 2005 at nearly a hundred years old. Originally published in 1947, just prior to the founding of the People’s Republic, this concise yet insightful book delineates the essence of Chinese society. Fei characterizes it as agrarian, inherently provincial, and structured around flexible networks where interpersonal connections are extensive, but distrust of outsiders runs deep.

Even today, this book remains invaluable for comprehending Chinese social dynamics, offering a framework to grasp the intricacies of kinship and interpersonal bonds within Chinese culture. As a counterpoint to the overused notion of “guanxi,” Fei’s work stands out as an unparalleled resource

Follow Kerry Brown on Twitter @BKerryChina.

Read the Financial Times‘ review of The New Emperors.
Read Times Higher Education‘s review of The New Emperors.

Kerry Brown is the Director of the China Studies Centre at the University of Sydney and former head of the Asia Programme at Chatham House. His new book is The New Emperors: Power and the Princelings in China, and is the author of Contemporary China, Friends and Enemies: The Past, Present and Future of the Communist Party of China and Struggling Giant: China in the 21st Century.