For the past few lessons, we have been looking at how China or America can provide each other with lessons, based on their respective ideologies and philosophies, on managing societal problems. Frankly speaking, I was unaware of a few of the issues that were raised during class. For example, I did not know about the devaluation of Yuan. Luckily enough for me though, most of the other issues were quite familiar and I was able to catch on in class.
As we moved on through the lessons, I learnt many problems which Chinese or American societies face, and some of the solutions which can be adopted.
In China, one of the most well known problems is the media censorship. Twitter, Facebook, and many other social media have been blocked in China, only to be replaced with their own versions of the social networks. This is a problem because it gives very little freedom to people to interact with other people and voice their opinion freely. This gives a very controlled and oppressive atmosphere. China's education is also stressful. This can easily be seen by the unbelievably high suicide rates in China. Corruption is likewise prevalent in the Chinese society. This damages the people's image of the government.
As for America, a totally different set of problems can be observed. Perhaps due to the fact that America is very liberal, there have been many protests and social unrest in the society. The allowance to carry guns also might have increased the crime rate in America. America has a bipartite political system, which unfortunately caused a very low efficiency and rolling out policies, because the two parties (Republicans and Democrats having opposite ideas) debate so much on policies.
We see that the China and America have very different problems. Perhaps the two countries can build on each others' strengths and correct each others' weaknesses?
For example, the Chinese education system and censorship problem can be solved by the implementation of the Western ideologies of liberty. With a more liberal system in effect, the Chinese will be free to voice the opinions, thus improving the community as a whole.
Ideally, this can work. However, this is not practical. The fact is that Confucian values of strict hierarchy have already been ingrained into the mindsets of the Chinese. Thus, it will be very hard to change the system and change the mindset of the people in China. Likewise for America.
However, there is a solution to all the problems faced. One could change the way which the values are perceived. Ideologies are after all merely words, and one can choose to perceive it in anyway he wants. It is similar to how Osama Bin Laden and his team of terrorists twisted the words of the Islamic religion. I'm not implying something as extremist as the example above, but merely the extent into which one can perceive rules differently.
For example, Confucianism values education. This does not necessarily need to mean rote learning. A liberal form of learning is also a form of education! Introducing this idea could potential improve the education in China.
Western ideologies include freedom of speech. Thus the bipartite system in America. Why not choose to interpret the ideologies in such a way that it means to say "a majority of one party, with a minority of another". Constructive feedback can still be gathered. The effectiveness of this system has already been tested in Singapore, in fact. See for yourself how much Singapore has grown in the past 40 years! (propaganda unintended, but still, true.)
Thus, I believe that solutions to the problems of these countries lie not in other countries, but in how they themselves choose to perceive their set of values!
(622 words)
