Doing History: Changing China

1. Defining obstacles to change: What hindrances to China’s effective transformation are stated or implied in these documents? Do their authors perceive any positive qualities in Chinese civilization that might facilitate the country’s transformation?
2. Assessing goals: “China as a culture and a political system must be destroyed in order to preserve China as a nation.” To what extent would the authors of these documents have agreed or disagreed with this statement?
3. Identifying differences: Imagine a conversation among the authors of these documents. What points of agreement might they find? What conflicts would likely arise among them?
4. Considering “westernization” and “modernization”: To what extent do these proposals represent plans to “westernize” China? Or might they rather be considered “modernizing” efforts? What is the difference between the two concepts?