Gilded Age

by Ivan Franceschini (Editor), Nicholas Loubere (Editor)

According to the Chinese zodiac, 2017 was the year of the ‘fire rooster’, an animal often associated with the mythical fenghuang, a magnificently beautiful bird whose appearance is believed to mark the beginning of a new era of peaceful flourishing.

Considering the auspicious symbolism surrounding the fenghuang, it is fitting that on 18 October 2017, President Xi Jinping took to the stage of the Nineteenth Party Congress to proclaim the beginning of a ‘new era’ for Chinese socialism. However, in spite of such ecumenical proclamations, it became immediately evident that not all in China would be welcome to reap the rewards promised by the authorities. Migrant workers, for one, remain disposable. Lawyers, activists and even ordinary citizens who dare to express critical views also hardly find a place in Xi’s brave new world.

This Yearbook traces the stark new ‘gilded age’ inaugurated by the Chinese Communist Party. It does so through a collection of more than 40 original essays on labour, civil society and human rights in China and beyond, penned by leading scholars and practitioners from around the world.

272 pages, ebook

Published April 1, 2018

Reviews

[Laurie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Made in China Yearbook series fills a very important gap in contemporary sinology. While perhaps the subject matter discussed in these volumes is familiar to academia, in public discourse, I often feel that these matters are not taken into account or as well understood as they should be. The Made in China series fills this gap, presenting a highly readable and insightful account into matters critical to understanding China.

This series is also an essential counterpart to the China Story Journal.