The Good Fight Peter Hessler on China
Jun 21, 2025
Peter Hessler, a New Yorker staff writer with deep ties to China, shares his unique perspective on the country's changes over 30 years. He recounts his teaching experiences from the 1990s to today, highlighting the evolution of students from rural backgrounds to middle-class only children. Hessler discusses the intense pressures of China's education system and how students manage their ambitions in an authoritarian context. He emphasizes the lessons America can learn from China's work ethic and resilience, navigating the delicate balance between progress and personal fulfillment.
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China's Unique Political Reality
- China's political system is hard to describe with Western Cold War models. - Young Chinese find ways around restrictions and are more worldly than expected.
Mentality Lags Behind Wealth
- Former rural students now live comfortably but still see themselves as poor. - Mentalities change slower than material circumstances in China.
Preference for Stability Over Democracy
- Many former students believe China shouldn't adopt multi-party democracy. - They value political stability which enabled economic progress over uncertain political change.
