Dreadful Desires: The Uses of Love in Neoliberal China

Charlie Yi Zhang explores how the Chinese state uses affective notions of love to regulate the population and secure China's place in the global economy, framing love as a set of desires that encompass heteronormative intimacy, familial and communal attachment, upward mobility, and private property ownership. These desires are based in oppressive systems of gender, class, and sexuality and connect love to economic survival and gender normativity, underwriting Chinese neoliberalism at the expense of individual flourishing.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 280 pages
Publication date: 08 April 2022
Publisher: Duke University Press

In his book "Dreadful Desires: Love, State, and the Regulation of Chinese Society," Charlie Yi Zhang delves into the intricate ways in which the Chinese state employs affective notions of love to govern its population and secure China's position in the global economy. Through a comprehensive analysis, Zhang unveils how the state perceives love as a collection of desires that encompass heteronormative intimacy, familial and communal attachment, upward mobility, and private property ownership. These desires, which are intricately woven into performance in nationalistic ceremonies, same-sex romantic fan fiction, the immensely popular reality television dating show "If You Are the One," and the cult of patriarchal personality surrounding Xi Jinping, are explicitly rooted in oppressive systems of gender, class, and sexuality.

Zhang argues that these desires, as they are propagated through various forms of media, establish a profound connection between love and economic survival, as well as gender normativity. He contends that these desires, when unfulfilled, perpetuate Chinese neoliberalism at the expense of individual flourishing. By highlighting how state-framed forms of love generate desires that cannot be satisfied, Zhang positions China as a pioneering force in the global shifts toward exploitation and authoritarianism.

Through his insightful exploration, Zhang sheds light on the complex dynamics between state power, individual desires, and the construction of social identities in China. He challenges readers to consider the implications of state-sanctioned forms of love on individual autonomy and well-being, raising important questions about the limits of political control and the potential for resistance in a society driven by economic interests. "Dreadful Desires" is a thought-provoking and indispensable contribution to the study of Chinese society and politics, offering a nuanced understanding of the ways in which love, state, and society intersect in shaping the nation's future.

Weight: 422g
Dimension: 157 x 227 x 29 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781478017998