China Scholar Stockholm Syndrome

A fascinating look at the screwed-up incentives for those who have devoted their lives to studying China, by an economist at Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. Even though they all know better, Western scholars of China "habitually please the Chinese Communist Party, sometimes consciously, and often unconsciously":

We talk about economic institutions and their development over time as if they were institutions in the West. “Price administration” regulations, central and local, abound, giving officials far-reaching powers to interfere in the price-setting process. Yet we accept official statistics that show 90% of all prices, by trading value, to be market-determined. We do not question the meaning of the Chinese word shichang, translated as “market,” but presume it to be the same as in the West.

"We ask Western instead of China-relevant questions," says the author:

Article after article pores over the potential economic reasons for the increase in income inequality in China. We ignore the fact that of the 3,220 Chinese citizens with a personal wealth of 100 million yuan ($13 million) or more, 2, 932 are children of high-level cadres. Of the key positions in the five industrial sectors—finance, foreign trade, land development, large-scale engineering and securities—85% to 90% are held by children of high-level cadres.

But "what can make Western academics stop and think twice about who they have bedded down with?" After all:

We obviously know of the labor camps into which people disappear without judiciary review, of torture inflicted by the personnel of state “security” organs, and of the treatment of Falun Gong, but choose to move on with our sterilized research and teaching. We ignore that China’s political system is responsible for 30 million dead from starvation in the Great Leap Forward, and 750,000 to 1.5 million murders during the Cultural Revolution.

Via A&L Daily

Comments

JasonL | April 12, 2007, 12:03pm | #

Going on record as not on board with Albionite's comments. I'm not sure they were sincere, but just in case, I want everyone to see me walking away from the 'happy people are dead' business.

Shem | April 12, 2007, 12:14pm | #

China is my field of specialization, and I found the article to be interesting, and I agree in general, although I don't think some of the conclusions he draws are completely supported by the evidence he pulls out. I don't take such a dim view of the work that's being produced, and I tend to think that the economic matters are more an example of people who already had underlying socialist sympathies being drawn into studying the last major Socialist society in the world. Selection bias can explain it as much as official repression. I also think that he understates the degree to which the Western governments are complicit in the soft-peddling of certain issues; Western investors and governments don't want the sort of work done that will point out Chinese problems, because if they do then it'll put them on the hook for serious social and economical problems, problems without easy answers that promise to make life very difficult for whomever winds up holding the bag. Now, it's not right that it's like that, but it's also not fair to lay it entirely at the feet of the Chinese government. Both sides are getting benefit from the situation. Which is why it's also very unfortunate; the Chinese system has some serious structural issues that stand in the way of it's growth continuing indefinitely. Paying attention to them would be a good idea, given the degree to which our economy is dependent on Chinese goods.

It's also a problem that for the past 150 or so years, there haven't been any really good options in terms of Chinese government; this became especially true after the Qing fell and the Republican Era took over; a bunch of crooks and gangsters, out for only their own benefit. In that atmosphere, when you look at the idealists in the Party's early history, its hard not to cheer for them and against the (ostensibly) capitalist Nationalists. If one isn't careful, that can easily continue into the Mao age, where its not warranted, so I guess in that sense he's right.

I wish I could stick around, but I have to go present my thesis at a conference. I'll be interested to see how this thread shakes out.

Ken Shultz | April 12, 2007, 12:49pm | #

When I try to think of a transition away from communism that doesn't involve the nomenclature seizing assets...

It's like trying to imagine a popular revolution in which nobody gets hurt.

...which isn't to say that abuses shouldn't be criticized.

Rhywun | April 12, 2007, 1:06pm | #

I sympathise with the Chinese government

What did a Falun Gong ever do to you?! Hand you one too many flyers or something?

China's horrible human rights record, fudging of economic data, and concealment of the iron grip it still maintains over its "free" market economy never gave American manufacturers pause when shipping all their manufacturing over there - why should scholars be any different?

TrickyVic | April 12, 2007, 1:06pm | #

Albionite, exactly what is it that makes you think they are batshit crazy? Please expand.

I've seen them protesting with their signs and they do promote their "exercise" which seems to me like a variant of Tai Chi. I'm thinking there must be more to it than exercise. But I dunno. I've never seen any political from them other than don't tread on me. But China seems to hate them. Maybe China is afraid Falun Gong will replace Tai Chi for morning exercise.

John | April 12, 2007, 1:21pm | #

"For me, all crazies are crazy. Will you not stand up for all of them?"

You should unless they are hurting someone or breaking the law. The Davidians didn't deserve to have Janet Reno burn them alive but they did violate the gun laws and did get into a stand off with the police. They were hardly blamless. I have yet to see anything about the Fulon Gong that shows that they are anything but a bunch of harmless cranks. What have they done to deserve being imprisoned or harrassed much less killed?

John | April 12, 2007, 1:24pm | #

Then enlighten us Albionite. What are they doing that is so dangerous and justifies anything more than making fun of them for being kooks?

jb | April 12, 2007, 1:25pm | #

Any details? Links?

C'mon, we mock scientology on this board all the time, and it's always entertaining. Surely you can do the same for Falun Gong, if they're that batshit crazy.

Chrisd | April 12, 2007, 1:27pm | #

Um, I'll stand up for all the crazies. The Branch Davidians were not hurting anyone, and my (very) limited experience with the Falun Gong seems to indicate the same. I may not want to join either group, but neither group has ever tried to convert me.
Seems like libertarianism is largely about the freedom to believe crazy-ass ideas without repercussions. Especially since libertarianism is, largely, a crazy-ass idea. Sauce for the goose and all that.
In fact, the idea that just because someone holds a crazy-ass idea they should be arrested (I know that is something of a misstatement of Albionite's position) is itself a crazy-ass idea as far as I am concerned.

Usual caveats about no initiation of force, compulsion to share in crazy ass idea, etc.

Not sure if I need to drink.

Rhywun | April 12, 2007, 1:33pm | #

The burden of proof is on them, not me.

So, you're not going to provide any specifics, are you? All we're asking is how do they harm anybody.

Ken Shultz | April 12, 2007, 1:35pm | #

Correct me if I'm wrong, but the communist party didn't give a rat's ass about Falun Gong until its members started criticizing the government.

...so when you say, we should "secretly agree that people like Falun Gong should be suppressed", uh...no. In fact, I'll go on the record as saying that Falun Gong and everyone else you deem "crazies" should be perfectly free to protest the government--not suppressed.

de stijl | April 12, 2007, 1:54pm | #

The Branch Davidians were not hurting anyone...

Tell that to the twelve year girls who had his babies.

SM | April 12, 2007, 2:03pm | #

Albonite,

Falun Gong, whether batshit to the n'th degree or not, are hardly the only people to enjoy the gentle ministrations of the Chinese Gov'mint. In fact, the original article hardly metntions them. It does talk about a researcher from the University of Hong Kong - hopefully that's normal enough for you - who was jailed because he asked impertinent questions (deemed such by the chinese government anyway).
Though one of the weaknesses of the article is that it fails to mention at all the degree to which investors are willing to avert their eyes to abuses. Or in Yahoo's case, to actively collaborate.

VM | April 12, 2007, 2:11pm | #

Aresen - agreed

However, you can think of times when Wac(k)o is used either to condemn the BDs or the gov't. The BDs were scumbags, but the gov't abused its power something fierce.

Imus said a bunch of racist shit and the market is kicking the crap out of him. Just cuz he turned to some hypocritical vultures sans credibility doesn't change that fact.

Two sides. Both broke the law in Wac(k)o. The fact that they were relentless assholes doesn't mitigate the gov't's abuses. The fact that Reno is a scumbag doesn't hide the scumbagishness of the BDs.

It's like an evil kitten of despair chasing its own tail. Round and round in the widening gyre!

The falcon does not return to the falconer. The center cannot hold. Things fall apart.

Back to China - do they have good take out there?

[runs off]

Chrisd | April 12, 2007, 2:11pm | #

"Tell that to the twelve year girls who had his babies."

I've never been a twelve year old girl, but I suspect that if I had been, and if I had been asked, I would rather have had Koresh's babies than be burnt alive for my own protection.

With the exception of the children in that compound, everyone was there because they chose to be, and children don't get choices anyway.

ed | April 12, 2007, 2:13pm | #

The temptation to have the freak arrested is...well...a great temptation.

Only if the freak is blasting death metal through the walls way louder than any human needs to hear it. Then he should be arrested. And water-boarded. Then castrated so he cannot reproduce.

Don't worry, caveman in #211. This isn't about you.

Cesar | April 12, 2007, 2:22pm | #

Fulan Gong is banned in China for the same reason they ban independent labor unions and have only one political party. In an authoritarian state, any group which might makes its members more loyal to that group than to the state is a threat. Its not so much because Fulan Gong believes crazy ideas--its because they were able to organize thousands of people right under the governments nose.

de stijl | April 12, 2007, 2:31pm | #

Aresen,

Does he get off scott-free for quoting Yeats?

VM | April 12, 2007, 2:48pm | #

bin gar kein Russe. Stamm aus Litauen. Echt Deutsch.

I have seen the eternal Footman take my coat and snicker. And in short I was afraid.

No I am not Prince Hamlet nor was meant to be...

(that part - the prince hamlet - I used as my answering machine message. That and the "hello?.... [pause] hello? just kidding!")

VM | April 12, 2007, 2:53pm | #

d'on -- Aresen -- your special punishment skills are needed

hier

Apparently ISD broke teh Intertubez

Chucklehead | April 12, 2007, 3:09pm | #

Quoting T.S. Eliot is punishable by 20 years forced labor or 1 year reading "The Wasteland"...

Methinks someone was slouching in their Eng. Lit. class...

de stijl | April 12, 2007, 3:16pm | #

Chucklehead,

Slouching towards Bethlehem perhaps?

Rimfax | April 12, 2007, 3:28pm | #

I find it odd that a China scholar would confuse the current rulers of China with the Maoists. Does he think of the Gang of Four purge was minor scandal? To my mind it was a coup, though a low-key one.

I'll be the first to line up when the administrator's of Mao's tomb start selling tickets for peeing on the late great shithead, but this hasn't been a Maoist state since 1976. It hasn't been Galt's Gulch by a long shot, either, but viewing modern China through the prism of the Cultural Revolution seems strange to me.

TrickyVic | April 12, 2007, 3:35pm | #

"""Honestly, now. If you know anything about them, then you know they are not just practicing "Tai Chi" (which is just stretching..sort of like yoga..just stretching..completely without any further meaning or use). They are nut cases."""

I don't know anything about them other than their exercise. That's why I asked you to expand. You seem to know a fair amount about them since you hold such an opinion. I am curious what you know that makes them crazy.

You have made the claim that they are batshit crazy. When you make a claim the burden of proof would be on you. It's not their job to prove your argument.

Postmodern Sleaze | April 12, 2007, 3:58pm | #

On Falun Gong:

I've read some of Li Hongzhi's works; it's a mishmash of Buddhism, Taoism, alchemy, UFOlogy, and other New Age ideas; I went to one of their Qigong classes, it wasn't really any weirder than anything the woman behind the counter at the local crystal and candle shop would sell you... Yeah, they're crazy. But they're no crazier than many of the sects that posters on this forum probably have close friends who are members of: they're no nuttier than Wiccans, Thelemites, Urantians, Mormons, Scientologists (though CONSIDERABLY cheaper), etc...

... in other words, harmless nutters, unlike the CCP, who are very dangerous nutters who are responsible for the deaths and oppression of millions.

So, frankly Albion, fuck you and the horse you rode in on.

Oh, and I love their Epoch Times, even if they have a strong bias against Lee Kwan Yew. I frequently read it on my rides home.

VM | April 12, 2007, 4:55pm | #

"However, being human, we have all had the URGE to "push someone in front of the bus" from time to time. "

And, dear sir, there are those who walk in front of the bus, voluntarily

hier

Postmodern Sleaze | April 12, 2007, 5:01pm | #

Aresen:

Okay, true enough. Though I usually reserve the spots on that list for the obnoxious gutterpunks who think they're entitled to my money, not people who are being persecuted by the CCP. And, come to think of it, most of those gutterpunks hang out right next to the light rail tracks...

Postmodern Sleaze | April 12, 2007, 5:26pm | #

Aresen:

Well, in my case, I'm a user of said public transit (I own an excellent car, but, as I've gone from being a well-paid low level executive to being an unemployed graduate student, I can't afford to park it in downtown Portland every day). It's precisely because I use said public transit that I can't give my $@#% change to a bunch of obnoxious kids; I need it to ride the friggin train!

But yes, there are certainly days when I'd love to see some of them pasted to the front of the Blue Line MAX. Then I can smirk and get back to reading my free copy of the Epoch Times.

:P

Rhywun | April 12, 2007, 9:15pm | #

Well, Scientology is probably responsible for at least one death, so I don't consider them harmless nutters... But I don't know if Falun Gong places any medical restrictions on its adherents - if so, then I'll agree it's a dangerous cult.

Deus | April 13, 2007, 12:18am | #

Does anyone else find the irony in claiming that Falun Gong is crazier than Maoism?