Tradition and Modernization in Chinese Business

A great deal has been written on Chinese business and China’s economic growth, but what are Chinese businesses really like? Based on extensive original research including ethnographic fieldwork in several Chinese provinces and interviews with Chinese businessmen, this book explores the true nature of Chinese capitalism. It demonstrates that although Chinese businesses are growing and “modernizing”, longstanding traditions continue to play a key role. Contrasting Confucian ideals with Western approaches, discussing the tension between the profit motive and moral concerns, and assessing the important analyses of Chinese capitalism by Max Weber and other leading Western commentators, the book provides an exceptionally rich picture of Chinese commercial enterprise.