| Shelly,
I really enjoyed my time in China and found it an absolutely fascinating country, but I think you are going a bit overboard in your optimism. 500 million migrants moving into cities over 15 years doesn't mean they will all suddenly own suburban homes and a Volkswagen. Rather, I get the feeling that China is, more than ever, moving to resemble many other 'developing' countries (and even many 'developed' ones) where you have huge wealth disparities, the glittering downtowns surrounded by miles of slums. One of the reasons, in my opinion, that Chinese cities appear so 'developed' and 'rich' is largely because they have managed to keep the teeming masses out and can concentrate the wealth among the urban few at the expense of the rural many. That they can also use dirt cheap labour (sometimes so cheap they aren't even paid) to build these glittering cities also helps. I'm definitely a non-believer in the magic of 'modernity' to solve problems. I'm currently living in London, a so-called 'modern' city: go take a tour through the east end and north of Canary Wharf, and you will see extensive poverty that no amount of nice bank towers and luxury condos can fix. |
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