The Tyranny of History: The Roots of China's Crisis

by W.J.F. Jenner

Book Overview

Based on a series of lectures given by Professor Jenner in New Zealand shortly after Tianenmen Square in 1989, this book examines the peculiarities of Chinese history, and of the unique burden that... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0140146776
• ISBN13: 9780140146776
• Release Date: January 1994
• Publisher: Penguin Group
• Length: 288 Pages
• Weight: 0.50 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 5.1" x 7.8"

Customer Reviews

An Insightful But Dated Account of Societal Forces in China

I have twice read and cited Jenner's treatise for my doctoral studies on socio-cultural influences in Chinese education and have found his arguments compelling if not always convincing. This is a must-read for those wishing to gain the spectrum of sinological analysis but it should also be kept in proper context. This book was written in the immediate wake of the Tiananmen Massacre and is based on a series of lectures, as one book reviewer noted. As such, it is overwrought with worry about China's future, and has an understandable but unwarranted sense of foreboding. In the intervening years, some of what the author doubts can happen has indeed happened. But much remains unchanged, making the other published reviewer's dismissive remarks unfair and unhelpful. For whatever stance one adopts in reaction to contemporary Chinese society, there remains much to be garnered. As will be readily apparent, the tone is brooding to the point of being morose; but it is not contemptuous. Far from it; Jenner is quick to acknowledge his own biases and returns to them in the conclusion. He is almost apologetic for the harsh observations he makes, which keeps his writing from becoming Orientalist. At the same time, however, he gives too much credence to the burden of history on contemporary Chinese life. As one who has taught and conducted research in Chinese universities for the past decade, I can attest to the fact that in certain circumstances I had more freedom of expression and less group think than I found in North America. To be sure, there are taboo subjects in the Chinese classroom, but also a refreshing lack of political correctness, with literature explored more for its aesthetic than ideological merit these days. The same can not be said of some of our finest humanities curricula in the West. It has been noted that Jenner's book is lacking in citation, in particular footnoting. The author was of course well aware of this, and opted to refrain from such source documentation because it was not needed for the purpose he has in mind. That purpose is to muse at length on the condition of Chinese life at the end of the 20th century, its most tragic and tumultuous. Take the book on its own merits and you will find yourself pondering much of what he has said. But spend time in China first as part of a sojourn rather than excursion and you will appreciate his comments all the more. It is most unfortunate that this work is out-of-print because there is none other quite like it. Jenner doesn't mince words, but neither is his approach paternalistic. At times his writing does have colonialist overtones, which he must have recognized himself given his parting comments. This is a highly accessible academic work; indeed, a layman with past experience in China might find it more insightful than an academic without firsthand exposure.

A lot of food for thought

Professor of Chinese and head of the China Centre at the Australian National University in Canberra, Dr. W.J.F. Jenner believes that China is in a crisis which it will find itself impossible to extricate itself from. First of all, China is in the grip of a tyranny of history, in which the Chinese culture can only look back towards traditional solutions to modern and unprecedented challenges. Secondly, Chinese history was written by a bureaucracy that subtly changed that history to conform to a certain worldview, a worldview that espoused a hierarchical and autocratic view of society and human relationships. Now, I must admit that the summary above distills Dr. Jenner's marvelous analysis down to a simplistic sounding thesis. The book is complex, and in it the author shows off his deep understanding of Chinese culture, and makes a persuasive case. But, a lot has changed since when this book came out in 1992. China is a leading exporter of goods and is acquiring greater and farther-reaching influence, so how can it be said to be in crisis? I do believe that Dr. Jenner has made his point that to function in the modern world, China must overcome some of the autocratic and authoritarian tendencies in its culture, and that it is ill-equipped to do so. So, first off let me apologize for this review, which is really quite inadequate when discussing such a deep and fascinating book. This is a great book, one that will give anyone interested in the future of China, and indeed of the whole world, a lot of food for thought. If you wish to understand where China came from, and where it is going, then this is the book to get. I give it my highest recommendations!

An Excellent Read

I could have done with a few more footnotes, but the lack thereof was not because of academic sloppiness. The author stated clearly at the beginning that this book was to be treated as merely his speculations on Chinese history. He hit the nail right on the head. Working here and talking to the people (either in Mandarin or English) you will see that people are very determined to live fixated in the 9th century or so. And it's not going to change any time soon. A better question to ask might have been: "Is it amazing that China moved toward modernity as soon as it did?" Jenner details all the same arguments that I have heard time and time again. "You are not Chinese, so you don't understand." Or, when asking an analytical point "Chinese culture is not subject to the same rules of analysis as Western culture." Or, when talking about some observation "That is the difference between Chinese culture and Western Culture." If you were having these conversations yourself, you'd find that, indeed, the state is the religion of the people here. And you find the same cultural conflict between people here and modernity as you do in the Middle East. It only *looks* like something different here because the "religion" is not as clearly one as in the Islamic World. I have asked my students many times "If a man walks between here and McDonald's 1,000 times, his total displacement is zero. So, could the last 2,300 years of functioning governments have been going back and forth over the same ground again and again?" Jasper Becker wrote a very good book (The Chinese), which talks about the circular nature of Chinese history, but not in as much depth as this. As well written as it is, most people will not ever hear of this book and will make the same faulty assumptions that others do when they come to this vast dinosaur of a country to sell one sock to 1.3 billion people.

Why China will never be what we'd like it to be

Jenner speaks as one who knows China, cares deeply about it, and has come to understand how it is handicapped by its culture. These handicaps affect it at all levels: family and local community as well as the highest levels of government. His verdict: don't expect a free, democratic, flexible society to develop there anytime soon. Western values (even the best of them) have had and will continue to have trouble being accepted in this land of Confucian conservatism. This book is probably not for those with little knowledge of Chinese culture and history. The impact of what Jenner says comes from knowing enough already to grasp the truth of what he says.

A sad but well informed report on China's reality

The virtue that this book has for me is that it had helped me a lot in better understanding the Chinese culture and traditions and, at the same time, the book offers a wide and valorative review of different aspects of Chinese life. The tirany of History is not just a title for a book. It seems to be too a permanent experience for millions of Chinese and other related peoples, who seem to be caught in a circular history. In particular, this book is a denunciation of some aspects of traditional Chinese culture and history that deny individuals their rights, freedoms and vital possibilities. It is an explanation of why China seem now to be so much opened to the world and how simplistic are assumptions that the Chinese leadership have realized the virtues of market economy and that the economic reforms carried out in the People's Republic are conducive automatically to a democratic regime in the future by the very evolution of society.