China Study Group
Jonathan Lassen writes: Thanks LP for posting the review of Hart-Landsberg and Burkett's long MR piece. I just picked up a copy yesterday, and have been looking it over. I've got my own little quibbles with it (not enough emphasis on rural China, which I think is desperately important right now, they lump pre-1976 China together as 'Maoist' China, etc.), but personally I think it's a very welcome and timely piece. I hope it continues to spark debate and interest. I do not like to diminish the MR. Just... put it in perspective. Who funds it? Have you met the people who do? (I have met some of them.) Likewise, with groups using .orgs. So, here, to save reader's time, is from the Web site of China Group: China Study Group is a New York based non-profit organization formed in 1995 to facilitate networking of scholars/activists, and promote dissemination of info and research works, Another New York intelligentsia leftist group. Without roots, perhaps, based on the self-description: Members of the CSG support the broad goals of the Chinese revolution that triumphed in 1949, and seek to stimulate knowledge and debate regarding its achievements and limitations, as well as to offer a critical perspective of the radical changes that have occurred in China over the past 25 years and an ongoing analysis of its role in the world today. No mention of the money, though. Are these rich people in the CSG support? My guess is -- and this is prejudicial against me, not you -- that these people are academics or dilettantes without any roots in the cultures they write about. (Only a guess.) Nonetheless, China exists without the CSG, so, please, do not interpret my skeptical view of information from the CSG as a refutation of China. I think China might possibly be there for a long time -- even without me. Ken. -- I am the passenger And I ride and I ride I ride through the city's backside I see the stars come out of the sky Yeah, they're bright in a hollow sky You know it looks so good tonight -- The Passenger Iggy Pop, 1977
Re: China Study Group
Hi Kenneth Campbell, Who funds Monthly Review? I have no idea. I do know a bit about China Study Group, since I work with them. The annual budget is about 100 dollars, which is what the website costs. All the labor is volunteer. My guess is -- and this is prejudicial against me, not you -- that these people are academics or dilettantes without any roots in the cultures they write about. (Only a guess.) Some are academics, most are not. Most of the members are from China. None are dilettantes. Cheers, Jonathan wrote: Jonathan Lassen writes: Thanks LP for posting the review of Hart-Landsberg and Burkett's long MR piece. I just picked up a copy yesterday, and have been looking it over. I've got my own little quibbles with it (not enough emphasis on rural China, which I think is desperately important right now, they lump pre-1976 China together as 'Maoist' China, etc.), but personally I think it's a very welcome and timely piece. I hope it continues to spark debate and interest. I do not like to diminish the MR. Just... put it in perspective. Who funds it? Have you met the people who do? (I have met some of them.) Likewise, with groups using .orgs. So, here, to save reader's time, is from the Web site of China Group: China Study Group is a New York based non-profit organization formed in 1995 to facilitate networking of scholars/activists, and promote dissemination of info and research works, Another New York intelligentsia leftist group. Without roots, perhaps, based on the self-description: Members of the CSG support the broad goals of the Chinese revolution that triumphed in 1949, and seek to stimulate knowledge and debate regarding its achievements and limitations, as well as to offer a critical perspective of the radical changes that have occurred in China over the past 25 years and an ongoing analysis of its role in the world today. No mention of the money, though. Are these rich people in the CSG support? My guess is -- and this is prejudicial against me, not you -- that these people are academics or dilettantes without any roots in the cultures they write about. (Only a guess.) Nonetheless, China exists without the CSG, so, please, do not interpret my skeptical view of information from the CSG as a refutation of China. I think China might possibly be there for a long time -- even without me. Ken. -- I am the passenger And I ride and I ride I ride through the city's backside I see the stars come out of the sky Yeah, they're bright in a hollow sky You know it looks so good tonight -- The Passenger Iggy Pop, 1977
Re: China Study Group
Hi Kenneth Campbell, Hi Jonathan Lassen! Who funds Monthly Review? I have no idea. I have an idea... grin. But I love the publication, nonetheless. I do know a bit about China Study Group, since I work with them. The annual budget is about 100 dollars, which is what the website costs. All the labor is volunteer. Okay... that sounds noble. Volunteer labour is in most things -- like Christian summer camps. Some are academics, most are not. Most of the members are from China. None are dilettantes. As I hope you understood, I meant no offence. China needs no help from us. Ken. -- An important scientific innovation rarely makes its way by gradually winning over and converting its opponents: it rarely happens that Saul becomes Paul. What does happen is that its opponents gradually die out and that the growing generation is familiarized with the idea from the beginning. -- Max Planck
Re: China Study Group
Kenneth Campbell wrote: As I hope you understood, I meant no offence. China needs no help from us. I'm not sure why China provokes such strong feelings of separateness/alienation. Let's all just stay in our hermetically sealed container-states, it's much safer. JL
