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The rise of ‘bai lan’: why China’s frustrated youth are ready to ‘let it rot’
- rektide 4y ago> Early this month China’s president Xi Jinping encouraged the country’s youth to establish great ideals" and incorporate their personal goals into the "bigger picture" of the Chinese nation and people. "China’s hope lies in youth,"* On the one hand he's still pushing yolking your ambition to the party/country, but on the other hand this sounds remarkably pro-individual pro-ambition. Super interesting start of thr article. Not sure if there really is a change in the state's attitude/desires... I think of China as trying to control & master biopower, to be supreme, and he's still demanding subservience, but there's also an admission here that the state is only as good as it's people, that people need to go out & find ways to get thselves empowered. That feels different from previous Chinas.
- themodelplumber 4y ago> For example, we cannot make any long-term plans for our lives any more, because we do not know what is going to happen to us even five years down the road. I'd be interested in more context on this one. Is this a recent development in China? Is it related to bad outcomes coming from past government policy change, or more a forward-facing generational problem admitted by the government?
- WaxedChewbacca 4y ago