China's New Confucianism : Politics and Everyday Life in a Changing Society / Daniel A. Bell.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Bell, Daniel A., author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Confucianism--China.

Confucianism.

China--Politics and government--2002-.

China.

China--Social conditions--2000-.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (273 p.)

Edition:

1st ed.

Place of Publication:

Princeton, NJ : Princeton University Press, [2010]

Language Note:

English

Summary:

What is it like to be a Westerner teaching political philosophy in an officially Marxist state? Why do Chinese sex workers sing karaoke with their customers? And why do some Communist Party cadres get promoted if they care for their elderly parents? In this entertaining and illuminating book, one of the few Westerners to teach at a Chinese university draws on his personal experiences to paint an unexpected portrait of a society undergoing faster and more sweeping changes than anywhere else on earth. With a storyteller's eye for detail, Daniel Bell observes the rituals, routines, and tensions of daily life in China. China's New Confucianism makes the case that as the nation retreats from communism, it is embracing a new Confucianism that offers a compelling alternative to Western liberalism. Bell provides an insider's account of Chinese culture and, along the way, debunks a variety of stereotypes. He presents the startling argument that Confucian social hierarchy can actually contribute to economic equality in China. He covers such diverse social topics as sex, sports, and the treatment of domestic workers. He considers the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, wondering whether Chinese overcompetitiveness might be tempered by Confucian civility. And he looks at education in China, showing the ways Confucianism impacts his role as a political theorist and teacher. By examining the challenges that arise as China adapts ancient values to contemporary society, China's New Confucianism enriches the dialogue of possibilities available to this rapidly evolving nation. In a new preface, Bell discusses the challenges of promoting Confucianism in China and the West.

Contents:

Frontmatter

Contents

Preface to the Paperback Edition: Toward a Progressive and Humane Confucian Ethics?

Ac know ledg ments

Introduction

Part One POLITICS

1. From Communism to Confucianism: Changing Discourses on China's Political Future

2. War, Peace, and China's Soft Power

3. Hierarchical Rituals for Egalitarian Societies

Part Two SOCIETY

4. Sex, Singing, and Civility: The Costs and Benefi ts of the Karaoke Trade

5. How Should Employers Treat Domestic Workers?

6. The Politics of Sports: From the 2006 World Cup to the 2008 Olympics

Part Three EDUCATION

7. A Critique of Critical Thinking

8. Teaching Po liti cal Theory in Beijing

9. On Being Confucian: Why Confucians Needn't Be Old, Serious, and Conservative

Appendix 1: DEPOLITICIZING THE ANALECTS

Appendix 2: JIANG QING'S PO LITI CAL CONFUCIANISM

Notes

Index

Notes:

Description based upon print version of record.

Description based on online resource; title from PDF title page (publisher's Web site, viewed 23. Mai 2019)

Description based on publisher supplied metadata and other sources.

ISBN:

9786613831682

9781283519236

1283519232

9781400834822

1400834821

OCLC:

709551203