Maybe it is just Chinese journalism, maybe overly formal policy, or maybe just a plain, old bad idea, but reading through an article about some of the government's plans to alleviate poverty in China's rural areas, the plan seems terribly simplified. Maybe it is just me.
I read a short article in the China Daily about a joint plan between the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Chinese government to develop the local economies of the countryside, especially in minority areas. There may be a good plan hidden away somewhere, but the article was an over simplified idea restated in five slightly different forms, cramming one paragraph of content into a ten or so paragraph article.
The article entitled "Minorities get boost from gov't, UNDP" in the 28 Nov 2006 China Daily was easily what I would call a classic case of "over simplification." I could not say if this should be attributed to the poor reporting of the article's author or the faults of the development plan itself, but here are some of the highlights.
They want to "develop culture-based industries" utilizing the "unique cultural and natural assets" already present to help develop the local economy. The article never quite clarified how these cultural assets (whatever that means) will be used to actually help the economy, but that was left up to the imagination of the reader. My best guess to the meaning is helping villages create crafts and minority-themed items for sale to tourists.
If that is the case, this is what is going to happen. Village residents will start creating all these minority crafts that no tourist in their right mind wants to buy, and as a last resort to be rid of the stalking minority sales lady, the tourist will make a purchase. Yes, that will bring money into villages. Does it boost the local economies? Maybe. It seems more like degrading the minority cultures to the point of forcing them into what I might call "tourism begging."
Ironic when the article says, "this programme will help develop their culture while at the same time alleviating poverty." And just how to you develop a culture? Is this just a new way of saying civilize them? That is not my guess. From the looks of it, what they mean is dress up performers for substandard shows, meanwhile heralding the development of culture because more tourists are able to come a gawk at the cute minorities. "Develop culture" is little more than a euphemism for "exploit culture."
The article also stressed the utmost importance of educating and training local officials in the "latest poverty-reduction techniques." What? So, they are going to hold meetings for government officials as a means of learning how to manage the development of economies in minority areas? I am a bit lost as to what that really means, but as I said, the article was so over simplified, it could be the best plan in the world and nobody would ever know.
Then, just for a funny contradiction in terms, the article lets the reader know that "minority farmers will set up grassroots organizations." Is that something like planning a spontaneous rally?
Anyway, I am delving too deep into tearing this article apart, but the core issue it brings up is the effect of tourism on China's minority areas. It can be a great thing, but more often than not, minority cultures are absolutely exploited in the name of "preserving" their cultural heritage. There are good ways to both boost the village economy through tourism and also highlight the richness of the minority cultures, but this is not it.
They should save their money and buy everybody a bicycle or pig or something. That is making a good step forward, but it does not sound as flashy.
