China's Development and Harmonization Towards a Balance with Nature, Society and the International Community

The concept of ‘harmonization’ has become very popular in China, with the Chinese government increasingly applying the term ‘harmonious society’ to internal affairs and the term ‘harmonious world’ to international relationships. Harmonization as both an end and a means of China’s development is deeply rooted in China’s cultural tradition, which emphasizes moderation, balance and harmony between human beings and nature, between different social groups, and between the Chinese and other nationalities. This book examines the experience of enacting the concept of harmonization in China in recent years. It explores this in terms of developments within Chinese society, economic developments and changes in business practices, environmental challenges and coping strategies, and changing patterns of international relations. Throughout, it discusses the gaps between rhetoric and reality, policy and practice.

Introduction Part 1: Economic development and harmonious society 1. Market Reactions and Corporate Philanthropy: A Case Study of Wenchuan Earthquake in China Shujie Yao, Jianling Wang and Lin Song 2. Stochastic convergence of the greater China economies: a panel unit root approach Chun Kwok Lei and Pui Sun Tam 3. The role of corporate social responsibility in China’s sustainable development and the making of a harmonized society Clare Seung-eun Lee 4. Does banking ownership matter performance: empirical studies for contemporary China Puyang Sun, Cun Fu and D. Dickinson5. Ownership Structure Reform and Corporate Governance Jian Chen Part 2: Constructing a harmonized society 6. From morality to morality – the Rhetoric of Chinese foreign policy at the 60th anniversary of the People’s republic of China Dominik Mierzejewski 7. Interaction between state authority and the Chinese architectural professional Yanjing Zhang 8. E-government in China: opportunities and challenges for the transformation of governance in the information age Sabrina Ching Yuen Luk 9. Which way to leadership Lucy Badalian and Victor Krivorotov Part 3: Harmony between development and environment 10. An overview of energy efficiency policies and standards for commercial buildings in China K. Chmutina and S. Riffat, Zhu Jie 11. The integrated watershed management and ecosystem rehabilitation process on the Less Plateau of China Guobin Liu, et al 12. Diversification of livelihood strategy and its effect on local landscape restoration in the Loess Plateau Li Wang et al 13. Employment villages" in poor areas of China: a case study of north Shaanxi Bin Wu and Shujie Yao Part 4: Harmonious society and farmer participation 14. Access matters: The little man with the big stone--- A case on the Commodity Chain Analysis of the Chinese Fir in Pingjiang County, Hunan Province, China XU Xiuli et al 15. Development of University-based agricultural extension and gap with the needs of rural poor in China Guangzhe Liu and Suli Wu 16. Innovative farmers and their innovations Cheng Li, et al

Bin Wu is a Senior Research Fellow at the School of Contemporary Chinese Studies at the University of Nottingham Shujie Yao is Professor and Head of the School of Contemporary Chinese Studies at the University of Nottingham Jian Chen is a Lecturer in the School of Contemporary Chinese Studies at the University of Nottingham