Flemming Christiansen - Böcker

An introduction to Chinese politics which provides an accessible overview of the structures and dynamics of modern Chinese politics. The work analyzes political institutions within the broader context of Chinese history and the pressures of social, economic and cultural change.

Is Chinatown a ghetto, an area of exotic sensations or a business venture? What makes a European Chinese, Chinese?The histories of Chinese communities in Europe are diverse, spanning (amongst others) Teochiu speaking migrants from French Indochina to France, and Hakka and Cantonese speaking migrants from Hong Kong to Britain. This book explores how such a wide range of people tends to be - indiscriminately - regarded as 'Chinese'.Christiansen explains Chinese communities in Europe in terms of the interaction between the migrants, the European 'host' society and the Chinese 'home' where the migrants claim their origin. He sees these interactions as addressing several issues: citizenship, political culture, labour market exclusion, generational shifts and the influences of colonialism and communism, all of which create opportunities for fashioning a new ethnic identity. Chinatown, Europe examines how many sub-groups among the Chinese in Europe have developed in recent years and discusses many institutions that shape and contribute ethnic meaning to Chinese communities in Europe.Chinese identity is not a mere practical utility or a shallow business emblem. For many, China remains a unifying force and yet local and national bonds in each European state are of equal importance in giving shape to Chinese communities. Based on in-depth interviews with overseas Chinese in many European cities, Chinatown, Europe provides a complex yet enthralling investigation into many Chinese communities in Europe.

This volume investigates the forces and processes in Chinese rural society, exploring the local levels of government in rural areas (villages, townships and towns) as important managers of people and resources, and as deeply involved in business and enterprise. Whether they are 'Village Inc.' or not, the financial management, the ownership of the means of production, the structure of the rural enterprises, the farming structures, and the social networks all indicate that local government in rural China has corporatist traits, or can be conceived of as a hybrid of market forces and collective management. Most importantly, the role of the central state vis-a -vis rural economy forces a convergence of political and economic management in rural areas, which is exacerbated by terms of ownership, that some interpret as unclear or even 'murky.'