I remember William F. Buckley, Jr. once saying something like, "The question is not whether an elite will rule, but which elite will rule."
The ruling group of people are by definition the "elite".
A new book looks behind Xi Jinping’s anti-corruption campaign
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Re: A new book looks behind Xi Jinping’s anti-corruption campaign
#32It sounds like an incredible book. I will certainly check it out. It fits well with my experience of China well - a place where Guanxi (關係）trumps all else. People fear it, hate it, but also aspire it. It's also interesting that how unlikely this book is. I've been in the West for more than 20 years, but I don't plan on speaking ill of China at all. Kudos to the author. Another book that I really enjoy that seem to be…
There's nothing special about Guanxi, it literally means "networking" of well-connected people. Unless I am missing something?
Re: A new book looks behind Xi Jinping’s anti-corruption campaign
#33It sounds like an incredible book. I will certainly check it out. It fits well with my experience of China well - a place where Guanxi (關係）trumps all else. People fear it, hate it, but also aspire it. It's also interesting that how unlikely this book is. I've been in the West for more than 20 years, but I don't plan on speaking ill of China at all. Kudos to the author. Another book that I really enjoy that seem to be…
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Re: A new book looks behind Xi Jinping’s anti-corruption campaign
#34Related thread (6 days / 288 comments):
https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=28439448 ("Missing businesswoman urges ex-husband not to publish book critical of China (npr.org)")
Re: A new book looks behind Xi Jinping’s anti-corruption campaign
#35I read this book, it was truly jaw dropping to see the "Guanxi" system at work. From what I could tell, there is a whole system of unwritten rules about how different political factions could collect their "percentage", how these factions compete with each other and eliminate each other and so on. In a way, it is efficient because everyone who matters (i.e. princelings who control the CCP) has an incentive to "play t…
Where can I purchase the book?
Red Roulette: An Insider's Story of Wealth, Power, Corruption, and Vengeance in Today's China Kindle Edition
by Desmond Shum
Re: A new book looks behind Xi Jinping’s anti-corruption campaign
#36It sounds like an incredible book. I will certainly check it out. It fits well with my experience of China well - a place where Guanxi (關係）trumps all else. People fear it, hate it, but also aspire it. It's also interesting that how unlikely this book is. I've been in the West for more than 20 years, but I don't plan on speaking ill of China at all. Kudos to the author. Another book that I really enjoy that seem to be…
I also want to add the book is currently has 20 ratings on Amazon and 4.9 stars - I'm curious if a large flood of of negative reviews quickly get posted haha, since it is now on both the Economist and Hackernews, which I think China closely monitors.
Monitoring the Economist makes sense, but I’d be surprised if Hacker News is closely monitored as well.
Re: A new book looks behind Xi Jinping’s anti-corruption campaign
#37Earlier quoted context omitted.
Tell that to Snowden and the other whistle blowers
In America we have people like Snowden, and other political prisoners like Ross Ulbricht. However reasonable people can debate about what they did. I would say both deserve to be free. In China the rule is Snowden. Everyone becomes Snowden if you speak any truth whatsoever to power.
Does that distinction speak for the liberal charity of Western governments, or the utter uselessness of most dissent? Maybe the feds are chill with our social media posts and placard waggling because they know nothing will come out of it. But see how quickly they move when they're compelled to.
Re: A new book looks behind Xi Jinping’s anti-corruption campaign
#38Whenever some high-ranking CCP member is said to be doing something anti-corruption, it has to be understood that it really means anti-opposition. There's nothing going on about anti-corruption in the CCP; they're all utterly, irredeemably corrupt to the core, a big part of why someone even ascends to a high position in that organization. It's corruption beyond the wildest dreams of most people, like basements full of gold bars and such.
Re: A new book looks behind Xi Jinping’s anti-corruption campaign
#39I remember William F. Buckley, Jr. once saying something like, "The question is not whether an elite will rule, but which elite will rule."
I have Russian colleagues who I asked about Navalny they had the same view as on him (despite how much they dislike Putin). I was mildly surprised to hear that viewpoint.
Re: A new book looks behind Xi Jinping’s anti-corruption campaign
#40It sounds like an incredible book. I will certainly check it out. It fits well with my experience of China well - a place where Guanxi (關係）trumps all else. People fear it, hate it, but also aspire it. It's also interesting that how unlikely this book is. I've been in the West for more than 20 years, but I don't plan on speaking ill of China at all. Kudos to the author. Another book that I really enjoy that seem to be…
Confessions of an Economic Hitman was an eye opener for me.
I was recommended this by my Econ professor and it left a lasting impression on me