The self and the world: Changing worldviews among Chinese youths
MERICS Future China Lecture with Professor Xiang Biao
27 November 2023; 13:00 - 14:00 (CET)
Online
Organizer: Mercator Institute for China Studies

Subject: China’s youth live in an society that is under enormous stress. Economic growth is slowing and the labor market has not recovered yet. The government calls for self-reliance, cultural self-confidence and patriotism. "Lying flat" (opting out of labor market competition) and "runology" (finding ways to emigrate) have become hot terms among young Chinese. Student numbers abroad are picking up again.

How do younger generations experience the current economic and political environment? How do world views, expectations and the sense of self change over generations? And what are the longer-term implications for China’s socio-economic trajectory and how the country relates to the world? 

Prof. Xiang Biao (Director, Max Planck Institute for Social Anthropology, Halle) will explore and discuss. The conversation will be moderated by Mikko Huotari (MERICS, Executive Director), with Katja Drinhausen (MERICS, Head of Politics & Society) as discussant. Participants will be invited to ask questions and engage in the discussion.