Showing results by author "Ian Johnson" in All Categories

In traditional China, dynasties rewrote history to justify their rule by proving that their predecessors were unworthy of holding power. Marxism gave this a modern gloss, describing history as an unstoppable force heading toward Communism's triumph. The Chinese Communist Party builds on these ideas to whitewash its misdeeds and justify its rule. But in recent years, a network of independent writers, artists and film-makers have challenged this state-led disremembering.

Beginning in the years immediately after the First World War and continuing for more than a decade, the German military and the Soviet Union, despite having been bitter enemies, entered into a partnership designed to overturn the order in Europe. Centering on economic and military cooperation, the arrangement led to the establishment of a network of military bases and industrial facilities on Soviet soil, away from the oversight established by Versailles.  

The past is a battleground in many countries, but in China it is crucial to political power. In traditional China, dynasties rewrote history to justify their rule by proving that their predecessors were unworthy of holding power. Marxism gave this a modern gloss, describing history as an unstoppable force heading toward Communism's triumph. The Chinese Communist Party builds on these ideas to whitewash its misdeeds and glorify its rule. But in recent years, independent writers, artists, and filmmakers have begun challenging this state-led disremembering.

Anything and everything professional wrestling! Including guests, specific topics every week and watch alongs!

Our podacast will talk about aliens, alien abduction, mythical creatures, conspiracy theories, and more.

"China Seeks Tighter Grip in Wake of a Religious Revival" is from the October 07, 2016 World section of The New York Times. It was written by Ian Johnson and narrated by Paul Ryden.

"China Suppresses Christianity from the Top Down" is from the May 21, 2016 World section of The New York Times. It was written by Ian Johnson and narrated by Paul Ryden.

Today’s China seeks not to marginalize competing groups and belief systems, the way Beijing did during the Mao era, but to co-opt them. 

In present-day China, hundreds of millions of people are turning to faith for answers they cannot find elsewhere in their radically secular society. This burst of religious activity poses risks for the Chinese Communist Party and as Beijing pursues a new, harder line on social change, striking the delicate balance between toleration and repression may become harder.