Globalization means that China of today and China under Mao are not necessarily the same, and can't be viewed through the same lens. The internet is a Big Deal

Globalization means that China of today and China under Mao are not necessarily the same, and can't be viewed through the same lens. The internet is a Big Deal in terms of providing an outside perspective to willing Chinese looking to see what life is like outside of the Great (Fire)Wall. That said, you can't apply a western perspective when understanding China and the Chinese viewpoint. I spent some time over there and was constantly surprised by how the Chinese viewed themselves and their government and the world, in contrast to how I viewed the same.