Ever felt like someone's forcing everyone into the same mold? At the 2nd World Conference on China Studies, British scholar Martin Jacques dropped a truth bomb: 'China is not Western, never has been, and never will be.' 🤔
He argues that Western intolerance of difference — basically expecting each country to follow the 'Western way' — is actually backfiring. Instead of building bridges, it's creating tension and damaging global ties. 🌉💔
For young pros in South Asia and Southeast Asia, this isn't just theory. Think about tech collaborations, cultural exchanges, or global streaming platforms. When one side insists on a one-size-fits-all approach, creativity and innovation take a hit. Remember how Bollywood and Chinese studios are teaming up for fresh storylines? That’s the kind of mash-up that thrives on diversity, not uniformity. 🎬🤝
Jacques urges us to widen our lens and respect different paths to progress. Whether you’re coding apps in Bangalore, pitching startups in Jakarta, or curating content in Manila, recognizing unique cultural perspectives can spark game-changing ideas. 🚀✨
Bottom line: Embracing global diversity isn't just nice-to-have — it's key to future-proof collaborations and keeping the world buzzing with new energy. Let’s ditch the intolerance, open our minds, and see where a truly inclusive dialogue can take us. 🗣️🌍
Reference(s):
British scholar: Western 'intolerance' damaging relations with China
cgtn.com
