A future with Chinese characteristics
BERLIN — For much of the 20th century, the United States represented not just a place on the map. It was also a point in time. When Western Europeans looked at images of America after World War II—depictions of Hollywood’s glamor, American cars, and newfangled labor-saving devices—they thought they were looking into the future. The American Dream had an especially irresistible draw for East…
In the latter half of the 20th century, the United States was not merely a location on the globe; it symbolized a distinct era. Western Europeans, observing images of post-World War II America - the allure of Hollywood glamour, American automobiles, and novel time-saving appliances - perceived a glimpse of the future. The American Dream held a particularly enticing appeal for those living under the Iron Curtain in Eastern Europe and for tens of millions of Chinese during the period of opening and reforms that commenced post-Mao Zedong's demise in 1976.
China's remarkable economic transformation was, in part, motivated by Deng Xiaoping's admiration for American modernity, which he personally witnessed during an official visit in 1979. However, as we approach the year 2026, the roles appear to have been reversed. Currently, for the majority of individuals across nearly all nations, China epitomizes the future.
Much like Hollywood once projected the vision of modern life to the world, China is now demonstrating to African, Latin American, and even American youth the essence of an economy founded on renewable energy, mobile payments, and other services, along with cutting-edge robotics.
Written by urgent.news from The Korea Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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- A future with Chinese characteristics koreatimes.co.kr
