Seeking Truth and Hiding Facts: Information, Ideology, and Authoritarianism in China

Seeking Truth and Hiding Facts explains how the Chinese government adopted a system of limited, quantified vision to survive Mao Zedong's ideological leadership, leading to Xi Jinping's neopolitical turn to fix the problems of the prior system. However, quantification comes with its own perils.

Format: Hardback
Length: 280 pages
Publication date: 12 January 2023
Publisher: Oxford University Press Inc

For decades, a handful of numbers have come to define Chinese politics, until those numbers ceased to matter and what they purported to measure fell short. In his book, Seeking Truth and Hiding Facts, Jeremy Wallace argues that the Chinese government adopted a limited and quantified vision in order to survive the catastrophic consequences of Mao Zedong's ideological leadership. Wallace elucidates how this system functioned and examines how the issues that accumulated in its blind spots ultimately led Xi Jinping to implement drastic measures. Xi's neopolitical turn, characterized by aggressive anti-corruption campaigns, reassertion of party authority, and personalization of power, aims to address the shortcomings of the previous system and mitigate the risk of failure.

The book makes a compelling argument that dictatorships do not solely rely on coercion and cooptation to maintain power, but also on convincing their populations and themselves of their rightful authority. Quantification serves as one tool in this persuasive arsenal, but it carries its own risks.

The book explores the historical context in which the Chinese government adopted a limited and quantified vision, highlighting the devastating effects of Mao Zedong's ideological leadership. It also examines the mechanisms through which the government managed information and controlled public discourse, using statistics and data to shape public opinion and maintain stability.

Xi Jinping's neopolitical turn is seen as an attempt to address the problems inherent in the previous system and to safeguard against the potential failure of the government to maintain power. The book argues that while Xi's measures may have their merits, they also raise concerns about the erosion of democratic values and the concentration of power in the hands of a single leader.

Furthermore, the book explores the perils of quantification, particularly in the context of Chinese politics. It highlights the potential for data manipulation and the use of statistics to justify authoritarianism and suppress dissent. It also raises questions about the accuracy and reliability of the data used by the government and the potential for bias and misinformation to influence public opinion.

In conclusion, Seeking Truth and Hiding Facts provides a unique analysis of the numbers that have come to define Chinese politics and the evolution of this quantification over time. Jeremy Wallace's book offers valuable insights into the workings of the Chinese government and the challenges it faces in maintaining power. While Xi's neopolitical turn may offer a solution to some of the problems of the past, it also raises concerns about the future of democracy and human rights in China.

Weight: 556g
Dimension: 241 x 161 x 19 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780197627655