Ted Talk: Understanding the Rise of China
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Table of Contents
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"...Now, I know it's a widespread assumption in the West that as countries modernize, they also westernize. This is an illusion. It's an assumption that modernity is a product simply of competition, markets and technology. It is not. It is also shaped equally by history and culture. China is not like the West, and it will not become like the West. It will remain in very fundamental respects very different...."
Key Terms
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Guided Viewing Questions
- How does the projected size of the Chinese economy compare to that of the American economy in the years 2025 and 2050?
- In what fundamental respects will the dominant global country be different from the Western countries in the modern era?
- How does the case of China challenge the assumption that modernization leads to westernization? What factors does Martin Jacques argue are equally influential in shaping modernity?
- How is China's identity different from the Western concept of a nation-state? What historical and cultural elements contribute to China's sense of civilization?
- What are the three building blocks Jacques proposes for understanding China's uniqueness? How does each building block contribute to China's distinct character and approach to governance?