Traditional Challenge

CHOICE A: (Traditional Challenge) While often deplored as a source of corruption, “guanxi”” – connections are ubiquitous in China, and the cultivation of such connections is an important part of China’s social and business life today. In this lesson I want you to gain a very basic understanding of guanxi. If you plan to work or do business in China, you may need to cultivate guanxi relationships yourself, to be successful. Ben Chan’s article will provide you with a relatively positive view of the effectiveness of guanxi in enhancing business success. (Some researchers see it more critically). Feng Menglong’s (1574-1645) story “a voluntary sucker” describes the traditional Chinese rationale for putting oneself out to create guanxi.
Based on our reading for this lesson, what is your impression of the guanxi system? Do you consider it more of an asset or a problem in China’s current situation? Please support your opinion with facts and examples! (Length ca. 2 pages)

CHOICE B: (Creative Challenge) Using Li Ju-chen’s (pinyin spelling: Li Ruzhen) story “The Land of the Great” (eReserve) as a prompt, create a similar story about a system that makes an individual’s virtue (or lack thereof) public, and situate your narrative somewhere in China, at some time between 1949 and today!