The Chinese: Adapting the Past, Facing the Future

China: Adapting the Past, Confronting the Future combines original essays by leading experts with excerpts from primary sources, the latest scholarship, Chinese literature, and Western media reports to provide a comprehensive textbook on contemporary China. Completely updated, China: Adapting the Past, Confronting the Future is the latest in a series of classroom units on China from the Center for Chinese Studies at The University of Michigan. It is not only ideal for courses on contemporary China but also an excellent supplement for courses in area studies, international affairs and economics, and women's studies.


In addition to offering essay and excerpts, each section includes a bibliography of additional topical works as well as suggestions for complementary video and internet teaching resources.


The Study Guide to China: Adapting the Past, Confronting the Future provides students direction in understanding course content and makes suggestions for integrating video and on-line resources. It includes a list of readings in the text, learning objectives, an overview of the materials, the key concepts in each unit, and review questions.


History and Geography: Presents a broad sketch of Chinese history from earliest times and a detailed discussion of the forces that have shaped modern Chinese history.


Geography: Sharpens the focus on China's rich ecological and ethnic diversity.


Politics: Addresses political issues in post-Tiananmen China, including corruption, human rights, US-China relations, democratic reform, and religious and political dissidents.


Society: Examines contemporary social problems that have emerged in the post-Mao era, including divorce, migrant labor, family planning, problems facing Chinese women, and the proliferation of Chinese and Western religions.


Economy: Assesses the post-Mao economy after twenty years of experimentation and reform, including development of private enterprises, income disparities, case studies in rural and urban economic development, and the prospects for future growth.


Culture: Reviews twentieth-century Chinese literature, the intersection between politics and the arts, the explosion of popular culture, and changing visual culture in modern China.


Future Trends: Explores the prospects for democratization, generational change in leadership, the direction of modernization, and China's prospects for political liberalization.


History and Geography: Thomas Buoye, University of Tulsa. Society: Martin Whyte, Harvard University. Politics: Bruce Dickson, George Washington University. Economy: Barry Naughton, University of California, San Diego. Culture: Kirk Denton, Ohio State University. Future Trends: Bruce Dickson, George Washington University