American Culture Won't Take Over the World
Mark Steyn mentioned
this column (see my previous post) by Martin Jacques, about how American values and culture won't necessarily be adopted by the rest of the world.
The pastoral concept of the Chinese state, for example, its obligation to take care of the people, that dates back to the responsibilities of the emperor, and is also related to the concept of the extended family, is likely to become an increasingly familiar idea. There is the Chinese concept of min jian, not easily translatable - either linguistically or culturally - but which might be described in shorthand as the expression of Chinese tradition, from superstition to folklore, in everyday life, which remains a potent force in all Chinese societies to this day. More obviously, the very different notions of the family in Indian and Chinese culture are likely to become globally familiar; indeed, in a limited way, they already are.
Amusingly, Jacques includes his email address at the bottom of the page: martinjacques1@aol.com. That's right, his email is not from China Online.
