Completely revised and updated, the New Cambridge Handbook of Contemporary China is an indispensable and manageable guide to the world's most populous nation. Emphasising the period from the 1990s, the book covers and includes the following subjects: a chronology detailing events since 1949; politics and law; biographies of eminent individuals; an annotated bibliography of books, journals and websites relevant to China in the 1990s and beyond; foreign relations, especially with the United States and Russia; the economy, including China's main economic reform programs and objectives; education; population and a gazetteer. With an excellent selection of figures, diagrams and maps, this book will be the standard reference to contemporary China for students, teachers, journalists, travelers, academic and government researchers, business people, policy-makers and general readers.

The paradox of contemporary China - its openness to Western technology, yet its rejection of Western democratic ideals - serves to make China appear remote and inaccessible to those outside. The country's vast area and population only accentuate these difficulties. The Cambridge Handbook of Contemporary China presents topical information on all aspects of Chinese life since 1949, with particular emphasis on the 1980s; its major strength is its contemporary focus and easy-to-use format. Useful maps and tabled statistics accompany the text, which is divided into clearly defined categoried. Designed for students, specialists, educationalists, journalists and those in business and government as well as the general reader, the Handbook provides easy access to information on all areas of Chinese life and is a good starting-point for research.

Sarah Dauncey offers the first comprehensive exploration of disability and citizenship in Chinese society and culture from 1949 to the present. Through the analysis of a wide variety of Chinese sources, from film and documentary to literature and life writing, media and state documents, she sheds important new light on the ways in which disability and disabled identities have been represented and negotiated over this time. She exposes the standards against which disabled people have been held as the Chinese state has grappled with expectations of what makes the 'ideal' Chinese citizen. From this, she proposes an exciting new theoretical framework for understanding disabled citizenship in different societies – 'para-citizenship'. A far more dynamic relationship of identity and belonging than previously imagined, her new reading synthesises the often troubling contradictions of citizenship for disabled people – the perils of bodily and mental difference and the potential for personal and group empowerment.

China's rapid economic growth, modernization and globalization have led to astounding social changes. Contemporary China provides a fascinating portrayal of society and social change in the contemporary People's Republic of China. This book introduces readers to key sociological perspectives, themes and debates about Chinese society. It explores topics such as family life, citizenship, gender, ethnicity, labour, religion, education, class and rural/urban inequalities. It considers China's imperial past, the social and institutional legacies of the Maoist era, and the momentous forces shaping it in the present. It also emphasises diversity and multiplicity, encouraging readers to consider new perspectives and rethink Western stereotypes about China and its people. Real-life case studies illustrate the key features of social relations and change in China. Definitions of key terms, discussion questions and lists of further reading help consolidate learning. Including full-colour maps and photographs, this book offers remarkable insight into Chinese society and social change.

A wide-ranging and accessibly written guide to the key aspects of elite and popular culture in contemporary China.

Contemporary China is dynamic and complex. Recent dramatic changes in the Chinese economy, society, and environment pose numerous challenges for scholars of China. This Handbook will define contemporary China Studies for the social sciences: investigating how we can best study China; exploring the transformations of contemporary China that inform how we study China; presenting the breadth and depth of the China Studies field; and identify future directions for China Studies. In two volumes, the Handbook situates China Studies in history and context. Each chapter in Part One provides an overview and historiography of how scholars have conceptualized the Chinese state, nation, economy and environment, and analyzes trends in terms of different research approaches, types of sources, and trends in the study of these broad concepts. The next five parts cover substantive themes in China Studies, including economic transformations; politics and government; China as a global actor; urbanization and urban development; and Chinese society. In conclusion, the Handbook draws together critical discussions of emerging issues of transdisciplinary approaches to China Studies, the future of Chinese historical Studies, and the future of China in comparative contexts.

Handbook of Contemporary China is a convenient reference in one single volume that offers comprehensive overviews of crucial cultural dimensions and key institutions of China. The Handbook covers a wide range of topics including: development model, politics, society, law, population, ethnicity, foreign relations, environment, urbanization, higher education, religion, literature, cinema, leisure and consumption, and internet and society. It is the first of its kind in the field of China Studies that traces the historical evolutions and profound transformations over the last three decades that ultimately allow China to achieve global ascendance. Offering a multi-disciplinary and multi-faceted coverage of the seachanges of the Chinese reform, the Handbook is lucidly written and concisely presented to serve as a handy guide for both professionals and the general public to gain a quick and reliable understanding of the complexities of China.Contributing experts include Guobin Yang (Columbia University), Kevin Latham (London University), Fulong Wu (Cardiff University), Bin Liang (Oklahoma State University), Kam-yee Law (Hong Kong Institute of Education), Xiaogang Wu (Hong Kong University of Science and Technology), Zhongdong Ma (Hong Kong University of Science and Technology), Barry Sautman (Hong Kong University of Science and Technology), Simon Shen (Hong Kong Institute of Education), David Palmer (University of Hong Kong), Yok-shiu Lee (University of Hong Kong), Carlos Wing-hung Lo (Hong Kong Polytechnic University), Anna Ka-yin Lee (University of Hong Kong) Ka-ho Mok (Hong Kong Institute of Education), Li Wang (Zhejiang University), Ling-tun Ngai (Chinese University of Hong Kong), and Rui Zhang (Central Academy of Arts).