Chasing the Chinese Dream: Four Decades of Following China's War on Poverty

This open-access book explores the historical, cultural, and philosophical contexts that have made anti-poverty the core of Chinese society since Liberation in 1949, and the evolution of poverty alleviation measures from the 1950s to Xi Jinping's precision poverty alleviation and its goal of eliminating absolute poverty by 2020. It also addresses the implications of China's experience for other developing nations tackling issues such as pandemics, rampant urbanization, and desertification exacerbated by global warming. The first part of the book draws upon interviews of rural and urban Chinese from diverse backgrounds and local and national leaders, offering candid insights into the challenges that have forced China to continually evolve its programs to resolve even the most intractable cases of poverty. The second part explores the historic, cultural, and philosophical roots of old China's meritocratic government and how its ancient Chinese ethics have led to modern Chinese socialisms stance that "poverty amidst plenty is immoral". The third part explores the potential for adopting China's practices in other nations, including the potential for replicating China's successes in developing countries through measures such as the Belt and Road Initiative.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 224 pages
Publication date: 02 June 2021
Publisher: Springer Verlag, Singapore

This open-access book delves into the historical, cultural, and philosophical factors that have shaped anti-poverty as the central pillar of Chinese society since the country's liberation in 1949. It explores why poverty alleviation measures evolved from the simplistic aid of the 1950s to Xi Jinping's precision poverty alleviation and its ambitious goal of eliminating absolute poverty by 2020. The book also examines the implications of China's experience for other developing nations grappling with issues such as pandemics, rapid urbanization, and desertification exacerbated by global warming.

The first part of the book draws upon interviews with rural and urban Chinese from diverse backgrounds and local and national leaders. These interviews, conducted even in the most remote areas of the country, provide candid insights into the challenges that have compelled China to continuously evolve its programs to address even the most intractable cases of poverty.

The second part delves into the historical, cultural, and philosophical roots of ancient China's meritocratic government and how its ancient Chinese ethics have led to modern China's socialist stance that "poverty amidst plenty is immoral." Dr. Huang Chengwei, one of China's foremost anti-poverty experts, explains the challenges faced at each stage as China's anti-poverty measures evolved over 70 years to emphasize "enablement" over "aid" and to foster bottom-up initiative and entrepreneurialism, culminating in Xi Jinping's precision poverty alleviation.

The book also addresses why national economic development alone cannot reduce poverty; poverty alleviation programs must be people-centered, with measurable and accountable practices that reach even to the household level, as China has done with its "First Secretary" program.

The third part explores the potential for adopting similar poverty alleviation strategies in other developing nations. It highlights the importance of government policies, social welfare programs, and community engagement in addressing poverty and promoting social inclusion.

Overall, this book provides a comprehensive and insightful examination of the historical, cultural, and philosophical contexts that have shaped China's anti-poverty efforts and their potential for influencing poverty alleviation efforts in other countries.

Weight: 390g
Dimension: 157 x 232 x 19 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9789811606564
Edition number: 1st ed. 2021