No CrossRef data available.
We use cookies to distinguish you from other users and to provide you with a better experience on our websites. Close this message to accept cookies or find out how to manage your cookie settings.
We use cookies to distinguish you from other users and to provide you with a better experience on our websites. Close this message to accept cookies or find out how to manage your cookie settings.
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 07 May 2025
I would like to start with by defining what I mean by “Greater China.” It is a term used commonly in economics and investment communities around the world. It includes mainland China (hereafter China), Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan (Singapore, given its sizable Chinese community, is often included), despite the uneasiness of some Taiwanese scholars about the concept. At a cultural level, “greater China” corresponds with the term “cultural China,” coined by Tu Wei-ming during the 1990s when he spoke about the revival of Confucianism in the postwar period, arguing that instead of an impediment, Confucian values and ideals actually paved the way for the advance of economic expansion in many East Asian countries and regions. This economic expansion continued subsequently powered by globalization. Here, I offer a brief survey of the differing interests in, and engagements with, the study of globalization and global history in mainland China, Hong Kong and Taiwan. I argue that in the face of globalization, each of these regions developed distinct strategies to perceive and interpret its multifaceted impact. Thus, though I use the term “Greater China,” I intend to emphasize the very different approaches to the regional and the global in the case of China, Hong Kong and Taiwan.
[1] The author wishes to express his appreciation of the help provided by Prof. Ku Wei-ying and his assistant Tsai Lan-ting at National Taiwan University in finding information on the impact of globalization in contemporary Taiwan. An earlier version of this article was presented at “Global History and East Asia” at Duke University on January 5-6, 2009. The author would like to thank the conference organizer, Dominic Sachsenmaier, for his invitation and its participants, especially Mark Selden, for their constructive criticisms.
[2] Tu Wei-ming, Wenhua Zhongguo yu rujia chuantong (Cultural China and Confucian tradition) (Singapore: National Singapore University Press, 1996).
[3] Alvin Toffler's works such as Third Wave and Future Shock were translated into Chinese and enjoyed a warm reception.
[4] Liu Bo, “Shilun quanqiuhua de lishi biranxing” (An exploratory discussion of the historical necessity of globalization), Helongjiang dianda xuekan (Journal of Helongjiang TV University), 2 (2003).
[5] Xu Yanling & Gong Peihe, “Zai quanqiuhua de shiyu zhong jiedu Zhongguo tese the shehui zhuyi,” Kexue shehui zhuyi (Scientific socialism), 5 (2008).
[6] Yu Sinian, “Miandui quanqiuhua de Zhongguo xiandaihua” (China's modernization in the face of globalization), Kexue shehui zhuyi (Scientific socialism), 5 (2008).
[7] Sun Chaoyang, “Shilun quanqiuhua dui qingshaonian guojia minzu yishi de xiaoji yingxiang” (A tentative study of the negative influence of globalization in youth), Gansu lianhe daxue xuebao (Journal of Gansu allied university), 5 (2008).
[8] Zhao Lu, “Shixi wenhua quanqiuhua yu minzu wenhua zhenghe” (A preliminary analysis of cultural globalization and the reconstruction of national culture), Heilongjiang jiaoyu xueyuan xuebao (Journal of educational college in Heilongjiang), 10 (2008); Zhang Yong, “Lishi shiye zhongde quanqiuhua yu minzu-guojia” (Globalization and nation-states: a historical perspective), Shijie minzu (World nationalities), 2 (2007).
[9] Liu Ting, “Quanqiuhua beijingxia xifang qiangshi wenhua de xingcheng” (The establishment of Western cultural superiority against the background of globalization), Lilun qianyan (Theoretical forefront), 21 (2004); Wu Xiaoqun, “Women zhende xuyao quanqiu shiguan ma?” (Do we really need a global view of history?), Xueshu yanjiu (Academic research), 1 (2005); Li Cunxiu, “Lun quanqiuhua beijingxia xifangde wenhua zhimin zhuyi” (On Western cultural colonialism against the background of globalization), Xueshu jiaoliu (Academic exchange), 6 (2002); Zhao Yingchen, “Quanqiuhua beijing xiade Zhongguo wenhua anquan” (The security of Chinese culture against the background of globalization), Lanzhou xuekan (Journal of Lanzhou), 6 (2004).
[10] Luo Tianhong, “Quanqiuhua shi xifanghua ma?” (Is globalization Westernization?), Jiaoxue yu yanjiu (Teaching and research), 4 (2000). The author's answer is negative.
[11] Chen Qingzhu, “Qianqiuhua shidai wenhua shenfen de jiangou” (The construction of cultural identity in the age of globalization), Lilun daokan (Theoretical guidance), 11 (2008).
[12] Liao, with a degree in comparative literature from Berkeley, is now professor of English at Tsing-hua University in Xinzhu whereas Yang, with a degree in history from Taiwan University, is a writer.
[13] Liao Binghui, “Bentuhua yu quanqiuhua de tiaozhan” (Localization and the challenge of globalization), Xinshiji zhiku luntan (Think-tank forum of the new century), 22 (2003).
[14] Yang Du, “Quanqiuhua yu Taiwan” (Globalization and Taiwan), Shijie huawen wenxue luntan (Literary forum of the Chinese speaking world), 1 (2004).
[15] Lu Jianrong, Taiwan houzhimin minzu rentong, 1950-2000 (Postcolonial national identity in Taiwan) (Taipei: Maitian, 2003). Its introduction offers a good discussion on how “de-sinicization” becomes a precondition for many Taiwanese intellectuals intent on promoting Taiwan identity.
[16] See Li Xiyuan, “Quanqiuxing, minzuxing yu bentuxing: Xiang Gang xueshujie de houzhimin piping he Xianggang ren wenhua rentong de zaijiangou” (Globality, nationality and locality: postcolonial critique in Hong Kong and the reconstruction of Hong Kongers' cultural identity), Shehui xue yanjiu (Studies in sociology), 4 (2005). Also, Luo Yongsheng, ed., Sheide chengshi? Zhanhou Xianggang de gongmin wenhua yu zhengzhi lunshu (Whose city? Civic culture and political discourses in postwar Hong Kong) (Hong Kong: Oxford University Press, 1997) and Chen Qingqiao, ed., Wenhua xiangxiang yu yishi xingtai: Dangdai Xianggang wenhua zhengzhi lunping (Cultural imaginary and ideology: contemporary Hong Kong culture and political review) (Hong Kong: Oxford University Press, 1997).
[17] Ibid.
[18] Chen Shan & Liu Dishan, “Shiji jiyu: quanqiuhua dianying geju zhongde xin Xiang Gang dianying” (The encounter of the century: new Hong Kong movies in the globalizing environment of movie production), Yishu pingping (Arts criticism), 7 (2007); Hu Ke & Liu Hui, “Quanqiuhua, Xiang Gang xing, da Zhonghua: Xiang Gang dianying shinian huiwang” (Globalization, Hong Kong, and greater China: Hong Kong movies over the past decade), Dianying yishu (Movie art), 4 (2007).
[19] See, for example, Yu Pei, ed., Quanqiuhua yu qianqiushi (Globalization and global history) (Beijing: Shehui kexue wenxian chubanshe, 2007). Yu was then the director, and is now a fellow, of the Research Institute of World History.
[20] Luo Rongqu, “‘Xiandaihua’ de lishi dingwei yu dui xiandai shijie fazhan de zairenshi” (The position of ‘modernization’ in history and a new understanding of the development of the modern world), Lishi yanjiu (Historical research), 3 (1994); Li Shikun, “Lun shijie lishi lilun yu quanqiuhua” (On world history theory and globalization), Beijing daxue xuebao (Journal of Beijing University), 2 (2001); Ding Zhigang, “Guanyu quanqiuhua de sikao” (Thoughts on globalization), Shijie jingji yu zhengzhi (World economics and politics), 11 (1999); Yang Heping, “Quanqiuhua, xiandaihua yu shijie lishi de zhongheng fazhan” (Modernization, globalization and the linear and horizontal development of world history), Xihua shifan daxue xuebao (Journal of Xihua Normal University), 3 (2008).
[21] See, for example, Wang Yongtao, “Jingji quanqiuhua shijiao xiade Zhongguo lishi” (Chinese history from the perspective of economic globalization), Lilunjie (Theoretical circle), 6 (2003); Yu Sinian, “Miandui quanqiuhua de Zhongguo xiandaihua” (China's modernization in the face of globalization), Kexue shehui zhuyi (Scientific socialism), 5 (2008).
[22] See Wang Qingjia, Taiwan shixue 50 nian: chuancheng, fangfa, quxiang (Writing history in Taiwan: tradition and transformation, 1950-2000) (Taipei: Maitian, 2002), 84-107, 139-183.
[23] John Makeham & A-chin Hsiau, eds., Cultural, Ethnic, and Political Nationalism in Contemporary Taiwan: Bentuhua (Houndmills: Palgrave Macmillan, 2005).
[24] Wakabayashi Masahiro and Wu Micha, eds., Taiwan chongceng jindaihua lunwenji (Taipei: Bozhongzhe wenhua youxian gongsi, 2000) and Kuajie de Taiwanshi yanjiu: yu Dongya shi de jiaocuo (Taipei: Bozhongzhe wenhua youxian gongsi, 2004). Wu's words are in the latter, vi-ix.
[25] Huang Junjie, ed., Dongya ruxue yanjiu de huigu yu zhanwang (Taipei: Taiwan University Press, 2005); idem, Dongya ruxue: jingdian yu quanshi de bianzheng (Taipei: Taiwan University Press, 2007).
[26] See, for example, Chen Kuan-hsing (Guangxing), “The Imperialist Eye: The Cultural Imaginary of a Subempire and a Nation-State,” Positions: East Asia Cultures Critique, 8:1 (Spring 2000).
[27] Chen Kuan-hsing (Guangxing), “Positioning Positions: A New Internationalist Localism in Cultural Studies,” Positions: East Asia Cultures Critique, 2:3 (Winter 1994).
[28] Alvin So, a sociologist, has been noted scholars in examining the global connection between East Asia and the world beyond. See, for example, Alvin So & Stephen Chiu, East Asia and the World Economy (Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage, 1995).
[29] Ian Holliday's presentation at Global Studies Consortium in Sophia University, Japan, in May 17-18, 2008, http://globalstudiesconsortium.org/tokyo-2008.
[30] Cai Rongfang, Xianggangren zhi Xianggangshi, 1841-1945 (Hong Kong: Oxford University Press, 2001).
[31] Wang Gung-wu, ed., Xianggangshi xinbian (Hong Kong: Sanlian shudian, 1997), 2 vols.
[32] The Chinese University of Hong Kong.
[33] University of Hong Kong, Department of History.
[34] “The New Global History” by Bruce Mazlish, 6.
[35] See, for example, Chen Guangxing & Qian Yongxiang, “Quanqiuhua zhixia Taiwan de xueshu shuxie” (Academic writings in Taiwan under globalization), Dushu (Reading), 2 (2005). The authors argue that in view of the recent development in Taiwan's academic circle, it seems that globalization actually means “Americanizaion” in that what has been established in the US are also being taken as standard by Taiwan scholars, such as ranking and evaluating publications by measuring how many times they are referenced by other scholars and indexed and abstracted by certain databases. Though they published this article in a mainland journal, such critique has not been seen in the works of mainland scholars, even though the same move too has occurred in the PRC.
You have
Access
Open access