The imperfections that China’s top ideologue discovered in America are intriguing. In 1988, a curious young Chinese political scientist named Wang Huning embarked on a six-month journey to the United States. During his visit, he marveled at the Gateway Arch in St. Louis, Missouri, and scrutinized the town government of Belmont, Massachusetts. He also witnessed a football game at the Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, and toured a detergent factory in Iowa City, Iowa. The sight of numerous people begging in the streets and the comfort of waterbeds in furniture stores left a lasting impression on him. He was particularly intrigued by how such a young nation had surged ahead of his ancient homeland with a history spanning over 2,000 years. While he admired America’s dynamism, he also pinpointed contradictions that could potentially divide the country.
Debates among China-watchers continue regarding the impact of Mr. Wang’s American journey on China’s modernization. What is certain is that he departed academia a few years later, halting his prolific publication of work, to help shape the Communist Party’s message and potentially its policies for three consecutive presidents. Currently serving as Xi Jinping’s chief of ideology and propaganda, he is one of seven members of the Communist Party’s ruling body.
Americans could also benefit from learning from Mr. Wang. His book, “America against America,” offers a glimpse into the past, before the end of the Cold War and the integration of the virtual world into reality through the internet. It was a time when a Chinese visitor might be astonished by Americans using electric gadgets to sharpen pencils and ordering pizza over the phone. Mr. Wang’s book serves as a reminder that even in those days, Americans grappled with significant issues, from racism to homelessness.
Source: www.economist.com
