| Abstract |
"The first-hand experiences of the men and women in this book provide a human perspective on issues that have shaped US engagement with the China: politics and diplomacy, business and education, art and culture, journalism, law and human rights. For each of these Americans, China was more than just another place; it was an idea, a cause, a revolution, a civilization. Some were born in China while others were motivated by curiosity and adventure. Some believed Red China was an existential threat, some looked to the People's Republic as a socialist utopia, and others worked to improve US-China relations for non-ideological reasons. Also, there were Chinese Americans who wanted to help China overcome the poverty and humiliation of its past. Looming over their narratives is the question of whether starkly different Chinese and Western worldviews could find common ground. Was it best to abide by Chinese norms, taking into account China's unique history and culture? Or should individual civil and human rights be defended as universal? Would the PRC move in the direction of Western-style liberal democracy? Or was the Communist Party destined to continue on an authoritarian path? The figures in this book had distinctive answers to these questions. Their stories hold up a mirror to our two societies, helping to explain how we have arrived at the present moment"-- Provided by publisher. |
