China walking its own path
Welcome to our blog. It took a while. But now that China’s Megatrends, The 8 Pillars of a New Society, has been be published in German (Hanser) and Chinese (Jilin) in the first days of September, and will be published in English in January (HarperCollins), this a good reason to begin.
Why a book about China?
Why not?
Is there any other country in the history of the world that has undergone such dramatic change in so short a time as China?
Some think China will soon dominate the world. An American might say that America with its $14 trillion economy is still far ahead of China. A European might say that China has to first straighten its human rights approach and then we’ll see.
What do we say? What was our purpose in writing this book? It’s easily said: To paint a picture of China with an inside out view and to analyze China on its own terms.
How did a dirt poor country with a population of 1 billion intellectually and literally starved people become the world’s third largest economy in only 30 years? What made such rapid change possible? What are the driving forces behind the economic success and what can we expect from China in the next decades?
China can be heavily criticized, but that does not stop it walking its own path, nor does it bring its increasing role in the world to a halt. We are all affected. Analyzing China on its own terms is the key to understand it.
Understanding does not mean approving but looking at things as they are. A tiger stays a tiger even when you think it is a pussy cat. You might like that or not, but handling the tiger as a tiger will show much better results. We are looking forward to a dialogue about the many questions the rise China’s raises.
October 26th, 2009 at 9:42 am
Dear Mr. Naisbitt:
Thank you for presenting a rational voice in evaluating China as a nation, a people, and perhaps most importantly, the unprecedented transformation occuring in China. As someone born and raised in China and having lived overseas for 2 decades, I found the contemporary China is the most capticalism and entrepreneural society besides the US. Also, the upward mobility (which I believe has a lot to do with the first 30 years of PRC) offers abundant opportunities for anyone who is willing to work hard and smart.
November 17th, 2009 at 10:26 pm
Dear Sir,
It is glad to hear a justice voice from outside of China. Yeah, China has some problems with her human rights and some regulations on internet and media, which Chinese people have never disagree with that criticism. But do you think weather it is right or wrong to criticize something without seeing themselves, they have only focus on the bad instead of the good ones.Yeah, everyone can make mistaks,including the goverments. Is the USA has a perfect human record? I don’t think so, look at what they are doing in Iraq and Afghanstan, many innercent people are dying every day.Sir,you are doing the right things, and best wish to your new published book. Definitely, this book will dominate longer time in the best-selling books place than your previous one.
February 24th, 2010 at 8:16 pm
Just read the China Megatrends. Wonderful read. I visited China in 1986 as part of a cultural/educational exchange. Great to read that the changes have really begun to change China. Also great to know that China will “do it their way”.
February 28th, 2010 at 11:18 am
Dear Prof. John Naisbitt
and Mrs John Naisbitt,
Many Western leaders do not really understand China as China. Your your latest work ‘China’s Megatrends : The Eight Pillars of a New Society. You work will help promote and foster alliance of civilizations between the West and China. I concur with you that the West can learn from the vertical democracies of China of a harmonious society and harmonious nation - one world with one’s dream ,that is harmonious Oneness of Being (the great Tao).
I wish your wife and you long life so that you can contribute more works that promote and foster more alliances of civilizations between the East and the West. Your work on China’s Megatrends is certainly a gift to the world.
With warmest regards,
Wong Weng Hon
April 28th, 2010 at 9:07 pm
Dear Prof. Naisbitt,
Your “China’s Megatrends” is a very interesting book. I’m about 3/4 finished with it and can see some real merit in China’s approach to the future. I should say, by contrast, I am increasingly disgusted with my country’s (the US) government’s inability to get anything done. And “throwing the rascals out” every couple of years doesn’t accomplish much either. How do you say, “Quit grandstanding, bickering and being an obstructionist and sit down and WORK IT OUT!” (So much time, effort, and money wasted)
Anyway, thank you for showing me that 1/3 of the world is REALLY getting something done. And it is okay they are doing it their way.
Sincerely,
Greg Steckler
Log Rhythms, Inc.
Bend Oregon
March 20th, 2011 at 7:16 am
John,
I read your first Megatrends book as was profoundly affected. I was amazed how you captured trends and the identification of bell weather states. Further, I found that concept could be extrapolated & applied in many other areas both micro & macro.
You have discovered the truth & art in communication and interpersonal relationships which creates a greater context of movement. I used some of your core discoveries to create an analytic & processing platform to cure a significant economic problem. However, the issue I faced, although it worked perfectly, was it is counter-intuitive to the current operating model/mindset. So now the job has become about breaking the model down into bite sized parts, selling the parts indexed to their mindset then rewiring once the model proves out.
All that being said, it was the original Megatrends that initiated my out of box thinking & the Megatrends 2000 that further fueled the fire.
Thank you ~
April 30th, 2011 at 6:44 pm
John,
I find myself wondering if there is a way to evaluate the methods that a society has used to get where it has come, to see if they are fit tools to get where they want to go from there. In my opinion most societal models carry the seeds of their own demise and the only way to continue on in the long run is to evolve into something else.
China has been forced to shed the complacence of their peaceful existence because of the interference of foreign powers over the last century. Rulers of old assumed that it would be impossible for any country to disturb China and they were quite mistaken to cling to that assumtion. While the vision of the current regime knows that much work is needed to ensure a safer stronger China, it is based on a societal model that relies on a framework that stretches back through history for thousands of years. The docileness of the common people who “know their place” has been engrained in the Chinese mindset since the warring states were united. In these modern times, will the current regime continue to enforce this or take advantage of the talents of an empowered citizenry?
By the same token, I feel the US has an empowered citizenry, but the powers that be seem bent on funneling that energy into the balkanization of red versus blue rather than accomlishing a societal goal. At this point, I’m not sure we have any societal goals anymore. So many are disillusioned by this internecine tug of war that they are becoming docile rather than take a stand to refocus our own government. When all we talk about for two out of every four years is who will take/keep power, we, as a society, are getting nothing done. Gone are the days that a president can proclaim, “We will go to the moon by the end of the decade!” We still have people running around in a tizzy over the presidents birth records!
I suppose I am looking for a rational objective measure by which any society can examine its practices and (be made to) see if they are working or not. Frankly I wish it were possible to have a conversation with you and Toynebee on the issue.
I was just watching you on CCTV 4 today and wanted to share my thoughts. Having seen you speak and on reading your site, I think I need to go get a copy of your book.
Thanks much,
Dave