Tumblr- Cut text.... January 24, 2019Dictatorships are rarely transparent. The manner through which a few individuals make decisions that others implement in the absence of decisive elections remains hazy enough that the trite or cliché—the black box, the secret meeting, the hidden network of power—are obvious and ubiquitous for a reason. Each dictator and dictatorship is unique, politically, h […]
- "But the paramount reason for resisting this deal, and any other, is what it would mean symbolically..." January 24, 2019“But the paramount reason for resisting this deal, and any other, is what it would mean symbolically to erect the wall or any portion of it. Like Trump himself, it would represent a repudiation of the pluralism and inclusivity that characterizes America at its best. It would stand as a lasting reminder of the white racial hostility surging through this momen […]
- "My heart goes out to the people living in hardship. In Sanhe Village of Liangshan in Sichuan..." January 4, 2019“My heart goes out to the people living in hardship. In Sanhe Village of Liangshan in Sichuan Province, I visited the families of two villagers from the Yi people. In Sanjianxi Village in Jinan City in Shandong Province, I sat down with the family of Zhao Shunli to hear about their day-to-day lives. In the Donghuayuan community in the city of Fushun in Liaon […]
- Cut text.... January 24, 2019
Category Archives: China
Back in the USA
Thanks to the Beatles for expressing these sentiments (amended (slightly)): Been away so long I hardly knew the placeGee, it’s good to be back homeLeave it till tomorrow to unpack my caseHoney reconnect the phone Now, after I convince T-Mobile … Continue reading
Posted in China, field work, USA
Leave a comment
The Wild, Wild West
From the 26th of May until the 3rd of June, I have been traveling with friends in Xinjiang. China’s northwest is dominated by Xinjiang, excuse me for the informality, by the Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region. Xinjiang is a majority minority … Continue reading
Posted in China, Xinjiang
Leave a comment
Cliche Research Techniques
It has literally become a joke that foreign correspondents or others writing about China base all of their observations on taxi drivers. In fact, sometimes it is even funny. From Sinocidal: You’ve just arrived in your 5-Star room at the … Continue reading
Posted in cabs, China, inflation, research
Leave a comment
Welcome Back to Chinese Society
I have just returned from a productive but exhausting research trip to the countryside of Heilongjiang, China’s most northeasterly province. In one county, I was 200 km from the Russian border. More on the adventures will come. I just had … Continue reading
Posted in China, Heilongjiang, inequality
Leave a comment
Opaque Transparency Decision
Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao signed a regulation to improve government transparency on Tuesday. Various headlines about the move: Government-controlled China Daily:Statute to make government open, cleanWashington Post, 2007.04.24:China Announces Rules to Require Government DisclosuresNew York Times, 2007.04.25:China Sets Out to … Continue reading
Posted in China, land, politics, transparency
Leave a comment
Arable Land Statistics
This CCTV story gives official arable land losses of 300,000+ hectares in 2006.* I question these statistics. The central government has made maintenance of arable land a priority a few years ago. The change in the numbers was immediate: subnational … Continue reading
Posted in arable land, CCTV, China, farming, statistics, terraced farming
Leave a comment
Rags to Riches
Journalists: combining multiple threads of my interest is a nearly fool-proof way to make it onto this blog. Nearly is a necessary qualifier as you never know when I might be traveling for research or having family members join me … Continue reading
Posted in bubbles, China, growth, inequality, real estate, stock market
Leave a comment
