Society

China’s youth: Me, Me, Me!

Just came across this July 2007 article today, and I think it’s worth a look-over…

TIME magazine’s Simon Elegant writes about China’s self-obsessed and materialistic “Me generation,” the under-30-year-olds who are more concerned about money and status than democracy and equality.

(Photo for TIME by Ian Teh)

“China’s Me Generation“
By Simon Elegant
TIME magazine
July 26, 2007

There are roughly 300 million adults in China under age 30, a demographic cohort that serves as a bridge between the closed, xenophobic China of the Mao years and the globalized economic powerhouse that it is becoming. Young Chinese are the drivers and chief beneficiaries of the country’s current boom: according to a recent survey by Credit Suisse First Boston, the incomes of 20- to 29-year-olds grew 34% in the past three years, by far the biggest of any age group. And because of their self-interested, apolitical pragmatism, they could turn out to be the salvation of the ruling Communist Party — so long as it keeps delivering the economic goods. Survey young, urban Chinese today, and you will find them drinking Starbucks, wearing Nikes and blogging obsessively. But you will detect little interest in demanding voting rights, let alone overthrowing the country’s communist rulers. “On their wish list,” says Hong Huang, a publisher of several lifestyle magazines, “a Nintendo Wii comes way ahead of democracy.”

What are the implications for the future of Chinese society?

Elegant says there are several long-term consequences that could arise from the current habits and attitudes of China’s young, affluent, middle class professionals:

1. Democracy may never come.

As the chief beneficiaries of China’s economic success, young professionals have more and more tied up in preserving the status quo. The last thing they want is a populist politician winning over the country’s hundreds of millions of have-nots on a rural-reform, stick-it-to-the-cities agenda.

2. Pollution will worsen.

In Beijing, for example, newly prosperous residents are snapping up automobiles at a rate of 1,000 a day. The number of vehicles on the capital’s sclerotic roads has doubled in the past five years, to 3 million. (By comparison, there are about 2 million vehicles registered in all of New York City.) But despite a grim pollution problem (Beijing air quality is among the world’s worst) that could embarrass China during next summer’s Olympic Games, the central government has made no move to curb vehicle purchases through regulation or taxes. And that, in turn, has made it harder for governments in the developed world to make progress in getting Beijing to do more to fight climate change.

3. People will fight.

Senior cadres…have acknowledged in public that growing unrest in the provinces, as farmers clash with police over expropriated land or official corruption, could threaten the party’s grip on power.

4. The rural poor will be left behind.

In March the government pledged to address problems plaguing the country’s peasants, such as access to medical treatment and schooling, health insurance and the disparity between urban and rural incomes. And yet a relatively small portion of the budget was set aside to address the concerns of the peasantry, with the bulk of spending still concentrated on stoking the booming economy.

It’s important to remember that the issue here isn’t whether or not the “Me generation” cares. It’s what they care about. You can’t blame them for preserving the comforts of life and aspiring for a profitable, successful future.

The test for China — as the Me generation grows bigger, richer and more powerful — will be whether it begins to push for the social and political reforms that are necessary to ensure China’s long-term prosperity and stability. How likely is that? Though they’re not exactly clamoring for free elections, members of the new middle class have shown a willingness to stand up to authority when their interests are threatened.

And what are their interests?

Owning private property. Affording a luxurious lifestyle. Traveling the world. Playing with their dogs (”Last October police in Beijing attempted to enforce rules limiting each household to a single, registered animal no taller than 14 in. (35 cm). The drive sparked a rare public demonstration by hundreds of well-heeled Chinese, mostly young dog owners.”) Partying at clubs. Looking good. Being respected by their international colleagues.

Read the outcome of this China Youth Daily survey of opinions about climate change and the environment, published by China Dialogue:

The public wants the government to set examples of sustainable consumption and feels that businesses have some responsibility to act as role models. There would, however, be strong resistance if people were asked to sacrifice their current living standards for the sake of sustainable consumption. Many people see the pursuit of a comfortable lifestyle as an individual right.

The rest of the survey reveals a gap between what people know (i.e. air pollution from car exhaust is horrendous) and how they react (i.e. everyone still wants to buy a car.)

For example:

There is a high level of awareness of climate change among young people: the survey showed that almost eight out of 10 understood the issue and were concerned about it….

A minority (18%) recognised that climate change was taking place, but were unconcerned. One view that was expressed was that although climate change may be occurring, it will not greatly affect our generation. Another was that climate change may not necessarily be a bad thing….

….there are also many blind spots in the public’s environmental knowledge. For example, the benefits of energy-saving light bulbs are not widely recognised; many people are not aware of how much water they consume; and there is not wide enough recognition of the importance of choosing locally-produced goods.

When young people make plans for their future and seek to improve their quality of life, they often do not take into account the environmental effects of the choices they make. For example, there seems to be a strong desire to own a car, with the vast majority of people wanting to buy one if they can. There is also a widespread and strong desire to own one’s own home and carry out home improvements.

The goal of China’s government officials and educators should be to inform China’s youth of the disastrous effects of over-consumption. Until they realize how pollution and corruption affect their day-to-day lives, Chinese youth won’t have any incentive to change their habits.

Sphere: Related Content

© 2007 ResponsibleChina.com: Environmental sustainability, corporate social responsibility and social entrepreneurship in China..