If your looking for something which requires minimal investment in language and culture learning, Chinese news companies put out media for English speakers. For 99 percent of people this is the best way for them to get a grasp on things because everything else will involve integrating into the culture enough to follow debates which your not going to do if your not already.
Understand that everything you read will be heavily biased in favor of China the same way the US is biased for its own interests. Without knowing Chinese you are always going through an interpreter so cutting out middlemen is your best option. Also remember the racist/dumb/stupid/incompetent parts of Chinese media will not be translated for you to understand and there are a loooot of them.
Read Mao and the governance of china and then modern Maoist or Marxist critiques (such as the critiques from phillipino, Indian and Nepalese Maoists and MLs)
My method is basically just counter propaganda. When you see an article written by imperialist/western sources, check their references/sources. See if they have any chinese language stuff included (they almost always mistranslate, so feel free to just paste it in a translator, or use the Yandex image translate to translate images of stuff they include).
Almost always you'll find out that the article /paper they cite is just totally different than what they claim it to be. Often times it will even counter plenty of their points, but they know the vast majority of their readers can't understand it and won't try so they just lie.
Another thing is checking out expats. Look for someone who moved to China from your home country and see what their experience is. There are plenty of bloggers and vloggers that are all over China and trying to explain it from the point of view of their home country.
How do I even form a semi educated opinion on China?
If your looking for something which requires minimal investment in language and culture learning, Chinese news companies put out media for English speakers. For 99 percent of people this is the best way for them to get a grasp on things because everything else will involve integrating into the culture enough to follow debates which your not going to do if your not already.
Understand that everything you read will be heavily biased in favor of China the same way the US is biased for its own interests. Without knowing Chinese you are always going through an interpreter so cutting out middlemen is your best option. Also remember the racist/dumb/stupid/incompetent parts of Chinese media will not be translated for you to understand and there are a loooot of them.
Read Qiao Collective
Read Mao and the governance of china and then modern Maoist or Marxist critiques (such as the critiques from phillipino, Indian and Nepalese Maoists and MLs)
Can dig up links but they are easy to find iirc
Thanks. Posting this link just for the fun URL https://www.bannedthought.net/China/Individuals/XiJinping/XiJinping-TheGovernanceOfChina.pdf
:jokah:
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Neoliberalism is the end of history
Peter Hessler is a great look at ordinary life in China. A bit lib but he captures the nuances that most western writers miss.
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stop listening to white people (except for russians)
My method is basically just counter propaganda. When you see an article written by imperialist/western sources, check their references/sources. See if they have any chinese language stuff included (they almost always mistranslate, so feel free to just paste it in a translator, or use the Yandex image translate to translate images of stuff they include).
Almost always you'll find out that the article /paper they cite is just totally different than what they claim it to be. Often times it will even counter plenty of their points, but they know the vast majority of their readers can't understand it and won't try so they just lie.
Another thing is checking out expats. Look for someone who moved to China from your home country and see what their experience is. There are plenty of bloggers and vloggers that are all over China and trying to explain it from the point of view of their home country.
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