The China Dream and the American Dream

William A. Callahan

Economic and Political Studies, 2014, vol. 2, issue 1, 143-160

Abstract: Since Xi Jinping invoked “The China Dream” as a key concept in November 2012, this phrase has come to dominate discussions of China’s future. This paper will examine the China dream phenomenon first by placing it in the context of debates that have been raging in Chinese civil society over the past few years. It will analyze the works of 20 prominent “China dreamers” in terms of debates over the proper relationship between (1) politics and economics, (2) equality and hierarchy, (3) civilization and civility, and (4) nationalism and statism. The other main context for the China dream concept is the American dream. While it is common to dismiss the American dream as crass materialism, this essay will examine how it stresses the complementary ideals of freedom and equality. More importantly, it will examine how the American dream has been used as a critical tool to comment on problems in the United States, and relate this to examples in the PRC where the China dream is being used as a critical tool as well.

Date: 2014
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DOI: 10.1080/20954816.2014.11673855

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