The End of the Chinese Dream
Title: The End of the Chinese Dream
Author: Gerard Lemos
Publisher: Yale University Press, London
Year published: 2013
301 pages
This book is a detailed and sobering exploration of the social, economic, and personal challenges faced by ordinary Chinese citizens in the early 21st century. Drawing on extensive fieldwork conducted between 2006 and 2010, primarily in the industrial megacity of Chongqing, Lemos seeks to uncover the lived experiences, aspirations, and fears of everyday people, challenging the polished narrative of China’s rapid development and prosperity often promoted by state media.
Through an innovative research method involving “wish trees,” where participants anonymously shared their hopes and concerns, Lemos provides a rare glimpse into the anxieties and frustrations of a population grappling with the consequences of breakneck modernization, systemic corruption, and social inequality.
The book argues that beneath the surface of China’s economic miracle lies a fractured society, where the promise of the “Chinese Dream” — a vision of prosperity, stability, and opportunity — remains elusive for many, leading to widespread discontent and a precarious future for the nation’s ambitious goals.
Lemos begins by contrasting the glossy images of industrious, upwardly mobile Chinese workers broadcast by state media with the starkly different reality he encountered. While China’s economic growth and urban development have been touted as unparalleled, the book reveals a society beset by profound social and personal challenges.
Lemos conducted his research in Chongqing, a sprawling industrial hub in southwestern China, far from the cosmopolitan centers of Beijing and Shanghai. By focusing on this less glamorous region, he aims to capture the experiences of ordinary citizens — factory workers, farmers, and urban residents — who are often overlooked in narratives about China’s rise.
His methodology is particularly distinctive: inspired by traditional Chinese “wish trees” used in folk celebrations, Lemos invited residents to write their wishes and fears on cards, which were then collected, translated, and analyzed. Over five data-gathering sessions, three in Chongqing and two in Beijing, he amassed 1,427 responses, offering a rich dataset of unfiltered sentiments.
The findings from these wish trees paint a grim picture of a society marked by insecurity and disillusionment. Respondents expressed deep concerns about a range of issues, including unemployment, inadequate healthcare, unaffordable education, and the erosion of community ties.
Many described personal and financial anxieties, such as the fear of losing their jobs or being unable to provide for their families. Education emerged as a particularly pressing worry, with families spending up to a third of their income — and in rural areas, as much as half — on schooling, reflecting the intense pressure to secure a better future for their children in a competitive system.
Health problems, both physical and mental, were also prevalent, exacerbated by limited access to quality care and the stress of rapid societal change. The destruction of traditional communities due to urban expansion and land seizures further compounded feelings of loss and displacement, as people watched their cultural heritage and social networks unravel.
Lemos argues that these individual stories collectively reveal a “broken society,” one where the Chinese Communist Party’s promise of a “harmonious society” rings hollow. The book highlights systemic issues, such as widespread corruption and a self-serving leadership, that fuel public frustration.
Lemos notes that grievances often go unaddressed, with local officials resorting to bribes or intimidation to silence complainants rather than resolving underlying issues. This pattern erodes trust in the government and fuels cynicism about the Party’s legitimacy.
The author also points to the growing frequency of protests, driven by issues like land grabs, environmental degradation, and labor disputes, as evidence of mounting discontent. He suggests that the Party’s heavy-handed response to dissent, coupled with its inability to address systemic problems, creates a volatile situation that could threaten China’s stability.
A significant portion of the book is dedicated to analyzing the broader implications of these findings for China’s future. Lemos contends that the social and community problems he documents undermine the nation’s aspirations for a prosperous and cohesive society.
The “Chinese Dream,” as articulated by leaders like Xi Jinping, emphasizes collective prosperity and national rejuvenation, but Lemos argues that this vision is increasingly unattainable for many citizens. The growing wealth gap, weakening social safety nets, and exclusion of large segments of the population from the benefits of economic growth create a sense of betrayal among those who believed in the promise of reform and opportunity.
Lemos is particularly critical of the leadership’s failure to address these challenges, describing it as divided and more focused on maintaining power than fulfilling the aspirations of the people. He predicts that without meaningful reforms, protests will persist, and the disconnect between the government and the populace will widen.
The book also situates its findings within the context of China’s rapid urbanization and industrialization. Lemos details the scale of transformation, noting that nearly 350 million Chinese are expected to migrate to cities by 2030, necessitating the construction of over 50,000 high-rise buildings and extensive new infrastructure.
This frenetic pace of development, while a testament to China’s ambition, has come at a significant human cost. Farmers displaced by land seizures, workers laid off from declining industries, and graduates struggling to find meaningful employment are among those left behind.
The case of Chongqing, where Lemos conducted much of his research, is emblematic of these challenges. Once a hub of heavy industry, the city has seen factory closures and job losses, leaving communities like Banshanercun — a district dominated by a decaying tire factory — struggling to adapt.
Critics of the book, as noted in some reviews, argue that Lemos’s analysis occasionally lacks rigor and may reflect preconceived notions about China. Some suggest that his reliance on Western sources and limited engagement with Chinese scholarship undermines the depth of his insights.
Others point out that the book’s repetitive recounting of wish tree responses can feel like an academic exercise, detracting from its narrative flow. Additionally, given the rapid pace of change in China, some aspects of the book, published in 2012, may feel dated, though Lemos maintains that the issues he describes — unemployment, inequality, and distrust in governance — continue to cast a long shadow.
Despite these criticisms, the book is praised for its human-centered approach and its ability to challenge simplistic assumptions about China’s trajectory. Reviewers highlight its value as a counterpoint to official narratives, offering a window into the struggles of the “laobaixing” (common people) that is rarely seen in mainstream accounts.
Lemos’s background as a British social policy expert and visiting professor at Chongqing Technology and Business University lends credibility to his work, though some critics question whether his outsider perspective fully captures the complexities of Chinese society.
His fluency in Mandarin and direct engagement with communities, however, allow him to present authentic voices that might otherwise be silenced. The book also touches on cultural nuances, such as the Chinese people’s reliance on family and community for support amid systemic failures, and their growing interest in religion, including Christianity, as a source of hope. These observations add depth to the portrait of a society in flux, navigating the tension between tradition and modernity.
Ultimately, The End of the Chinese Dream is a poignant critique of the disparities between China’s official rhetoric and the lived realities of its citizens. Lemos concludes with a somber assessment: the dream of prosperity, security, and freedom that emerged in the 1980s has faded, replaced by a reality of pragmatic, limited expectations and widespread fear of the future.
While he acknowledges the resilience of the Chinese people, he is skeptical about the government’s ability to deliver meaningful change, predicting ongoing unrest and a precarious path ahead. The book serves as both a historical document and a cautionary tale, urging readers to look beyond the headlines and consider the human cost of China’s rise.
It remains a compelling resource for anyone seeking to understand the social undercurrents shaping one of the world’s most influential nations.
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