September 25, 2006
A Collision of Rising Affluence and China’s One-Child Policy
In China, Children of the Rich Learn Class, Minus the Struggle, by Howard French (great title, Howard!)
“The grooming schools, study abroad and lessons in elite sports like golf and polo are as much about a gnawing sense of social insecurity as they are about getting ahead. ‘Americans respect people who came from nothing and made something of themselves, and they also respect rich people. In China, people generally don’t respect rich people, because there is a strong feeling that they are lacking in ethics. These new rich not only want money, they want people to respect them in the future.’”
Lacking in ethics is a pretty kind way to describe the new robber barons, and just like nouveaux riche throughout history, they’re obsessed with making their kids respectable.
September 26th, 2006 at 1:37 am
I remember when I was in South Korea it was like being in the 19th century. Some of the South Korean kids were excellent classical musicians, and they were also learning French and German. Have you ever read Pico Iyer? Very funny stuff about Asia in general.
September 26th, 2006 at 8:14 am
bjllk: I haven’t read Pico Iyer but will put him on my list… any titles you especially recommend? And thanks for the suggestion!
September 26th, 2006 at 11:06 pm
Video night in Kathmandu has some good essays, you would probably be interested in the Hong Kong essay. The Lady and the Monk is also very good, even though it’s about a Japanese housewife, not the most fascinating topic.
September 26th, 2006 at 11:28 pm
Financial Times has essays by Pico Iyer - I would suggest sampling him first - he has strong pros/cons.
September 27th, 2006 at 12:24 am
BBC: Don’t worry, I’ll get him from the library. (I rarely buy books.)