The Politics Of Compassion - The Sichuan Earthquake And Civic Engagement In China

by Bin Xu
Regular price $6.06
Unit price
per

Compassionate civic engagement shaped by political climate.

The Politics of Compassion is a thought-provoking book that sheds light on the complex social dynamics of civic engagement in China. Bin Xu's insightful analysis shows how civic engagement, while driven by empathy, is also constrained by political context. The book offers a unique perspective on the moral-political dilemma faced by Chinese citizens and the challenges of discussing politically sensitive issues in a repressive state. Overall, this is a must-read for anyone looking to understand contemporary China and the power dynamics behind civic engagement in the aftermath of a disaster.

The Politics Of Compassion - The Sichuan Earthquake And Civic Engagement In China

by Bin Xu
Regular price $6.06
Unit price
per
ISBN: 9781503602106
Estimated First-hand Retail Price: $156.12
Authors: Bin Xu
Date of Publication: 2017-08-22
Format: Hardcover
Related Collections: Politics, Sociology
Goodreads rating: 3.75
(rated by 4 readers)

Description

The 2008 Sichuan earthquake killed 87,000 people and left 5 million homeless. In response to the devastation, an unprecedented wave of volunteers and civic associations streamed into Sichuan to offer help. The Politics of Compassion examines how civically engaged citizens acted on the ground, how they understood the meaning of their actions, and how the political climate shaped their actions and understandings. Using extensive data from interviews, observations, and textual materials, Bin Xu shows that the large-scale civic engagement was not just a natural outpouring of compassion, but also a complex social process, both enabled and constrained by the authoritarian political context. While volunteers expressed their sympathy toward the affected people's suffering, many avoided explicitly talking about the causes of the suffering―particularly in the case of the collapse of thousands of schools. Xu shows that this silence and apathy is explained by a general inability to discuss politically sensitive issues while living in a repressive state. This book is a powerful account of how the widespread death and suffering caused by the earthquake illuminates the moral-political dilemma faced by Chinese citizens and provides a window into the world of civic engagement in contemporary China.
Condition guide
Availability
 
(0 in cart)

You may also like

Compassionate civic engagement shaped by political climate.

The Politics of Compassion is a thought-provoking book that sheds light on the complex social dynamics of civic engagement in China. Bin Xu's insightful analysis shows how civic engagement, while driven by empathy, is also constrained by political context. The book offers a unique perspective on the moral-political dilemma faced by Chinese citizens and the challenges of discussing politically sensitive issues in a repressive state. Overall, this is a must-read for anyone looking to understand contemporary China and the power dynamics behind civic engagement in the aftermath of a disaster.