Comparative Urban Studies Project
Environmental Change and Security Program
Asia Program
At a seminar organized by the Comparative Urban Studies Project, the China Environment Forum and the Asia Program on January 3, Jeffrey Wasserstrom, a U.C. Irvine China specialist and urban historian, drew on material from his book China's Brave New World -- And Other Tales for Global Times (Indiana University Press, 2007) to reflect on the dramatic way that Chinese cities have changed over the past two decades. Dr. Wasserstrom gave an overview of the book, highlighting the second chapter, "All the Coffee in China" which delves into themes missing from prevailing narratives on China. One such theme is the unprecedented strength of local pride and local identity in the lives of urban Chinese; ironic in the context of the current era of nationalism and rampant globalization. In the late 1980s China's streets were filled with placards extolling the virtues of communism. By 1996, however, there was a shift in the use of public space related to commerce, evidenced by imported logos, phrases, and activities. Another shift in the use of public space to promote specific cities and local interests could be seen on the shelves of Shanghai bookstores, filled with works about local history not necessarily contextualized in larger national narratives, and new books comparing and contrasting cities.
Event speakers: Jeffrey Wasserstrom, Jordan Sand, Weiping Wu
