Unfiltered Regard for China: French Perspectives from Mao to Xi

Unfiltered Regard for China is a collection of six unique narratives of French academics who, through decades of fieldwork, research, and engagement—some beginning as early as 1964 and continuing to the present—have explored China’s history, politics, and society. These distinct voices illuminate decades of transnational “scholar-state nexus” in the context of the rule of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) in mainland China.Spanning generations of French scholars, this book features luminaries such as sinologist Marianne Bastid-Bruguière and historian Michel Bonnin, alongside younger voices like sociologist Gilles Guiheux. These experts reveal the CCP’s unchanging nature, despite surface-level reforms, while exploring the party’s evolving control over society under leaders from Mao Zedong to Xi Jinping. Moving beyond traditional narratives focused on Beijing and Shanghai, this book delves into second- and third-tier cities across provinces like Fujian, Hebei, and Shandong, offering perspectives shaped by immersive research and deep ties with local communities. It captures the emotional, cultural, and intellectual connections of Sino-French engagements, providing readers nuanced perspectives on China’s social and political landscape through voices that have spent decades closely observing its evolution.This work is essential for students, scholars, and general readers interested in History, Political Science, Government, International Relations, and Asian Studies.

About the Author

Peidong Sun is the Distinguished Associate Professor of Arts & Sciences in China and Asia-Pacific Studies at Cornell University. Her research focuses on the social and cultural history of post-1949 China, including Mao’s revolution, Deng’s reforms, and their impact on the Xi Jinping generation. She has authored Who Will Marry My Daughter and Fashion and Politics , with an English edition forthcoming.