Only a short while before Xi Jinping's first official US visit in his capacity as Chinese president, I noticed with slight irritation that a theme disturbingly prevalent in earlier narratives has re-emerged in the media (for an example, see here).
That is, professional commentators desperately trying to figure out what the supposed new strongman is all about and tending to view China's current top leader as a persona somehow shrouded in mystery. There is such an awful lot of hyperbole in many of these 'how does the Chinese sphinx tick' pieces that I can't help to cringe.
It is especially vexing given the very real risk of perpetuating the age-old myth of the 'inscrutable Chinese'.
Not to be misunderstood: I know perfectly well that access to the secluded quarters of Zhongnanhai is highly restricted and analysing the inner workings of Chinese elite politics is no easy feat. Nor is the venture to entangle the personal from the political (if that's even possible) or to fully comprehend a politician's broader agenda (if there is one at all).
Nevertheless, there is most certainly no need for an advanced course in contemporary psychoanalytical theory and practice.
With regard to Xi Jinping, it would clearly help to hear and read what the man actually says.
A good starting point might be his book 'The Governance of China' (Amazon), a compilation of nearly 80 speeches and addresses released in October 2014 with mighty official fanfare.
I know, I know, it doesn't make for the most entertaining reading; on the other hand, nearly all main ideas and ideological underpinnings are laid out there for everyone to see (for a short summary, see this recent article in The Atlantic. The author coins the term 'Xiism' for the latter's special brand of ethno-nationalist Marxism).
Much of the widespread failure to dissect what's going on is due to the fact that Chinese sources and original statements are woefully ignored in most of Western mainstream coverage. It should be self-evident by now that monitoring the headlines and op-eds of officially sanctioned English-language publications, such as China Daily or Global Times, is definitely not enough.
But back to the man in question. Assuredly, CCP head Xi Jinping is a lot more affable and charming than his predecessor Hu Jintao, according to accounts by Westerners who have met him in person (should suffice to look at him, by the way).
True, compared to Hu, the very incarnation of wooden technocrat and party apparatchik, everyone would look affable (I always had this weird imagination he would just splinter into a thousand pieces if you push him too hard). The part of reaching out to the Chinese people and engineering populist stunts was left to his amiable sidekick, premier Wen Jiabao.
All in all, the best profile of alleged mystery man Xi Jinping I have come across so far is the one by Evan Osnos, entitled 'Born Red' and posted online by The New Yorker a while back. Very thorough, based on an impressive variety of interviews with Chinese and foreign informants from different backgrounds and using a lot of Chinese-language material as well as talks and texts by Xi himself, the extensive portrait is not only positively enlightening but also exceptionally well-written.
I strongly urge you to take the time to read all of it.
(Note: In case you have wondered now and then why I rarely refer to excellent German sources or authors, myself being German and all, the reason for this is quite simple.
In my very humble opinion, there are - sadly - next to none. Period. No sinister motives on my side whatsoever.)
No comments:
Post a Comment