TracingChina’sjourneybeganfromexploringruralrevolutionandreconstitutionsofcommunityinSouthChina.Spanningdecadesofrural-urbandivide,itfinallyuncoversChina’sglobalreachandHongKong’scross-borderdynamics.HelenSiutraversesphysicalandculturallandscapestoexaminepoliticaltumultstransformingintoeverydaylives,andfathomthedepthsofhumandramaamidChina’sfreneticmomentumtowardmodernity.Highlightingcomplicity,Siuportrayshowvillagers,urbanites,cadres,entrepreneurs,andintellectuals—ladenwithhistoricalbaggage—ventureforward.Buthavetheyvictimizedthemselvesintheprocess?
Thisessaycollection,informedbycriticalsocialtheoriesandshapedbycarefulscrutinyoffieldworkandarchivaltexts,iswovenbykeyhistorical/anthropologicalthemes—culture,history,power,place-making,andidentityformation.Siustressesprocessandcontingencyandarguesthatcultureandsocietyareconstructedthroughhumanactionswithnuancedmeanings,moralimagination,andcontestedinterests.Challengingthenotionthatsocial/politicalchangesaremerelinearhistoricalprogressions,shetraceslayersofthepastinpresentrealities.
JOURNEY SCROSS CHINA HISTORY FORTY YEAR MAKING POWER
