Book Review: Will The Boat Sink The Water?

As I read Will The Boat Sink The Water, I grew more and more envious of the authors for their insight into Chinese culture.  The authors, Chen Guidi and Wu Chuntao, delve deeper into the plight of the Chinese peasant in modern times than perhaps anyone has before.  And as someone who has studied and published on rural issues in China, I am jealous of the clarity the authors are able to describe their struggle.

The book was highly controversial in China when it was first published in 2003.  Originally written in Chinese under the title of Zhongguo Nongmin Diaocha (A Survey of China’s Peasants), it was translated and republished under the name of Will The Boat Sink The Water?, a reference to an old Confucian saying.  In the month before being banned it sold 150,000 copies.  It then sold ten million pirated copies. 

The book is organized into a series of stories on how local officials in rural China have grown in stature in the reform period, and as a result are modern day feudal lords.  The first chapters tells the story of Ding Zuoming, who was tortured and killed after demanding an audit of the local officials use of village funds.  The next tells the story of Zhang Village, where the local official murders four villagers in cold blood who also demanded an account of government expenditures.

The stories are tragic, and one is struck by the fact that these are likely not isolated incidents.  Interspersed in the suspenseful telling of these tales (the authors have a penchant for foreshadowing), are clear, detailed accounts of the history and political structure of rural China.  The book will not be mistaken for an academic text; it is too clear and concise for that.  Charmingly, it regularly cites wikipedia as a source.  But the lack of academic jargon should not be mistaken for a lack of accuracy.

In the most striking section, the authors describe why the peasant’s lives have gotten so much worse in the last thirty years, even while urban dwellers are enjoying unprecedented wealth.  One of the principle problems is the growth of bureaucracy.  In 1979 there were a little over two million people on the government payroll.  By 1997, there were eight million Chinese government officials.  These numbers closely follow the layoffs of State Owned Enterprises (SOEs).  As the SOEs laid off more and more people, the government, especially at the lower levels, hired more and more officials.  It has created the ironic trend that, even as China privatizes, the government increases in size.  And in order to pay for the bigger government, taxes increase.

Aside from the layoffs, another reason for the expansion of government is structural.  In the eighties, the communes were disbanded and converted into townships.  This change caused the 56,000 communes to expand into 92,000 townships.  Not only did this create more government organizations, but it also increased the autonomy of the local government.  The townships are now able to control their own finances.  Whereas before communes were centralized, the townships now control their own taxes, fees, fines, and “voluntary” donations.  The result is an enormous increase in the percentage of peasant’s already meager income being eaten up by government costs. 

These taxes are rarely put to use for the common good.  Officials always seem to have the best homes in the village.  Lavish dinner parties are regularly thrown at the people’s expense.  But even the projects ostensibly intended to help the villagers rarely are effective, in fact they often exacerbate the problems.  In Anfeng village, in an effort to comply with the central government’s “Eliminate Blind Spots” campaign, project after project failed.  The first, a rubber factory, resulted in a loss of six million Yuan.  The next, a zinc-processing plant, resulted in a 1.5 million Yuan loss.  These loans will have to be repaid by the local villagers.  Yet officials are fearful to report these failures to higher powers, even if it might result in tax relief and other aid for the peasants.  But if they report the losses it will spell the end of their political career, so they remain silent.  The result is that the local governments, in spite of the proliferation of taxes and fines, are deep in debt.

The work of Chen and Wu makes it clear how difficult a task it will be for the government to reform the countryside.  But it is a sign that the Chinese are taking an interest in the issues of the countryside.  In spite of the book being banned, almost every Chinese person I spoke to was aware of the book.  And for the Chinese to be concerned about these issues will do far more good than foreigners such as myself.

This book made me aware of the limitations foreign academics face in China.  Aside from the government limitations, no matter the degree of concern, the amount of education, or the good intentions, it will always be more difficult for foreigners to comprehend the problems of China, much less be able to effect change.  And this is obvious in much of the foreign scholarship on Chinese political issues.  While there are a few good scholars out there, many hide their ignorance of the issues behind academic jargon and complicated theory.  Will The Boat Sink The Water does not use any advanced political theory or academic language.  Because it doesn’t need to.  Instead, it simply speaks the truth about the nine hundred million peasants in China today.

Comments

[jean]

great, ben. i appreciate the view onto the topic. i saw the book at b&n. i'll get it.

[Mark Anthony Jones]

Thanks for providing such a fair and balanced review of this important book. This site, "China Speed" is among the few truly decent China-related blogs that I am aware of. Most tend to view China way too critically, and are used for people to rant and rave about all of the country's alleged evils.

China's problems in the countryside are serious, as you say, but the central government is aware of this, and are concerned enough to be looking for solutions.

You ought to participate in the MAJ-Sojourner Debate, on my site, as both Sojourner and I would really appreciate and value your input. The debate examines the nature of China's present day governance and society. We would especially appreciate your overview on China's present day legal state - is China making progress towards the establishment of the "rule of law"? What are the present strengths and weaknesses in China's legal establishments and practices? Are you opimistic about the future?

I have just added this site to my list of recommended China-related sites too, by the way.