forceforgood Force For Good

posted by Isabel Hilton on October 2, 2008

Tony Manwaring was impressed with the Beijing Olympics and why not? The magnificent show, was, after all, designed to impress. He also poses the uncomfortable question, for many Western readers, that it is China’s model of authoritarian capitalism, with all the aspects that the liberal West criticises, that makes such achievements possible. There is merit in this argument, too, and we might add to China’s list of recent achievements last week’s space walk, another spectacular national goal achieved. But does it therefore follow that the characteristics of the Chinese model that produce these remarkable events will translate into any national ambition – including the profoundly desirable goal of sustainable development? I think the question bears a little further scrutiny.

Issue(s): Embedding Values , Creating Frameworks , Sustainability

Region(s): East Asia

Tag(s): China , Environemt , Olympics

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