New Enlightenment The long history of China and the West with Kerry Brown
Oct 28, 2024
In this insightful discussion, Kerry Brown, a Professor of Chinese Studies and Director at the Lao China Institute, delves into the 400-year relationship between China and Britain. He highlights how the Enlightenment thinkers had a mixed view of China and how British colonial actions shaped its trajectory. Brown also discusses the rise of Chinese nationalism and the impact of Xi Jinping's leadership on modern geopolitics. He emphasizes the importance of dialogue to foster understanding amidst growing tensions between the West and China, pointing to a future reliant on continued engagement.
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China's Knowledge Advantage
- China knows much more about the West than the West knows about China.
- This knowledge gap causes misperceptions and challenges in current global relations.
Enlightenment's China View
- Enlightenment thinkers idealized China as advanced but stagnant.
- Britain saw itself as modern and sought to pull China into a new era, leading to conflict.
Britain's 19th-Century China Strategy
- Britain's 19th-century engagement with China was driven by trade needs, leading to conflict like the Opium Wars.
- The British sought influence without full colonial costs, resulting in a complicated, unstable relationship.
