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My special report on Chinese youth is out in @TheEconomist. I spoke to people of the post-Tiananmen generation in nightclubs, on farms. I found them to be patriotic—but also engaged, passionate & worldly. I describe who they are & what they want (1/7) https://www.economist.com/special-report/2021/01/21/generation-xi
Although they share a generational identity, much still divides a city kid from a country youth. They take distinct educational paths. Young rural bachelors have never had less chance of marrying, due to skewed sex ratios (2/7) https://www.economist.com/special-report/2021/01/21/homecoming
Such inequalities could lead to discontent. So the Communist Party offers a distraction: a heightened sense of national solidarity. It has co-opted youth by appealing to their patriotism, through rap videos, clickbait, bloggers—and deeper censorship (3/7) https://www.economist.com/special-report/2021/01/21/partygoers
Patriotism is motivated by more than party devotion: a need to let off steam, a desire to protest. But views of the world are coarsening. The experiences of covid-19 & Trump have formed beliefs in young Chinese that will linger after both are gone (4/7) https://www.economist.com/special-report/2021/01/21/a-bale-of-sea-turtles
Yet an appreciation for home-grown culture can be a force for good. Whether through debating shows, feminist causes or concern for the environment, youth are creating new identities. Having grown up amid consumerism, many now seek to improve society (5/7) https://www.economist.com/special-report/2021/01/23/the-lives-of-others
Who are China's young rebels? I spent a glorious few days in Chengdu, a city that has embraced the stressed and the free-spirited from across China, to hear what it has to offer a monk, a raver and an LGBT campaigner (6/7) https://www.economist.com/special-report/2021/01/21/how-to-rebel-in-china
In the face of a callous state, plenty of youth admit defeat. But many feel hopeful about China's future. They have seen they can change some things in society. This confidence—in themselves & in the fact that China can do better—is a powerful force (7/7) https://www.economist.com/special-report/2021/01/21/circling-the-square
For this report, I leant on the excellent work of many researchers who were generous with their time and thoughts. My biggest thanks go to the young people I met, for their patience and trust. Some are named, and some must remain anonymous https://www.economist.com/special-report/2021/01/21/sources-and-acknowledgments
Personal thanks to @alecash @fangkc @ericfish85 @fengchucheng @DariusLongarino @roseluqiu @howey_ou @lindameow_ @MarkRespinger @HuiyaoWang @Yaqiu @jwassers @carywoo @xuyiqing @minhualing (and many more)
