No Good Samaritans Here
Self-interest and greed - the moral degeneration of post-development China
The views are the author’s own.
China’s rapid transformation from communist backwater to economic powerhouse within a short span of time has elevated it to the status of international superpower, but at what cost?
Gandhi once said “the true measure of any society can be found in how it treats its most vulnerable members”. If that is indeed the case, then despite its superpower status and ample economic girth, it is evident that China is a moral vacuum and has much catching up to do.
A few years back, a CCTV video depicting a hit and run with a 2 year old toddler in Guangdong province went viral. The video was notable not only for showing the gory hit, but also the disturbing aftermath. In a display of ruthless apathy, a total of 19 passersby* walked or drove past, ignoring the scene before them. To add insult to injury, a second driver callously ran her over a second time to save the trouble of taking a detour. Eventually, a garbage collector came to her aid, by which time all efforts were in vain in a tragic case of ‘too little too late'.
The outcome of this story may have been different if any of the 19 passersby had paused to check on the wellbeing of the little girl, or if the driver had instead stopped the car and called for help. As it is, later after his arrest, he declared with indifference ‘If she is dead, I may pay only about 20,000 yuan. But if she is injured, it may cost me hundreds of thousands of yuan'".
Many such horror stories from China have been making waves on the internet in recent years, such as this video showing a mad scramble of people fleeing a Shanghai subway after a man collapses, fearing a contagious disease rather than staying to help. Numerous incidents showing members of the public abandoning those in need have given rise to China’s reputation as a utilitarian society, characterized by self interest.
The distinct lack of “Good Samaritans” (helpful people) has been attributed by many to a fear of extortion, wherein instances have arisen of people faking injuries or deliberately injuring themselves in order to blackmail others for compensation.
This is a well-known public concern, stemming from fear caused by the infamous “Nanjing judge story”, in which a member of the public who had come to the assistance of an injured elderly was blamed for causing her injuries and ordered by a judge to pay her medical bills. Cases such as these have helped cultivate an attitude of fear towards stopping the suffering of others.
In an increasingly materialistic society where wealth and power is revered, this attitude of self-serving interest can also be linked to the emergence of the super-rich and the growing middle class (Referred to locally as the “tuhao”, 土豪**). Currently, a popular measure by which a person judges another is how many Louis Vuitton bags or BMW cars they can afford; as a society, much emphasis is placed on saving face or boosting wealth, reputation and status.
This has also perpetuated the deeply ingrained culture of corruption known as “guanxi” (or “guanhai”, 關係), the cultivation of mutually beneficial relationships with people of influence or power, which often bring economic and political benefits. However, when it comes to strangers in need, people are content to turn a blind eye and mind their own business. This proverbial head in the sand mentality has lent itself well to ensuring survival and success, often at the cost of other people’s wellbeing; as scandals such as the tainted milk powder and gutter oil have more than adequately proven. In fact, in a recent study of 44 countries, the Pew Research Center found that China ranked first in bribery, as most of the citizens polled felt that the use of bribery was particularly effective at getting you ahead in life.
Another culprit that can be examined is China’s “dog eats dog” education system. In an environment where the focus is on attaining high marks rather than developing ethical judgement in students, the cutthroat atmosphere may not be conducive to creating moral fiber, as the recent spate of cheating scandals, which include students rioting to defend their right to cheat have brought to attention how damaging such an environment can be. Of course, given the less than exemplar moral stance taken on by a government engaged in a very public struggle with corruption, one can hardly expect the people to behave any better. There is an air of mistrust and resentment towards the government spurred on by the lack of enforced regulations. Instances of high level officials such as Bo Xilai***flaunting their power and privilege and the simple fact that the government rarely ever accounts for its mistakes, or obeys its own laws for that matter, certainly have not helped.
It is difficult to pinpoint the exact source of this extensive corruption and moral degeneration that has permeated Chinese society. We can also trace the roots of this problem through a look at Chinese history; traditionally, Confucian values which promoted selflessness, righteousness and social awareness formed the backbone of Chinese society and epitomized “Chinese” values. However, the advent of the famine brought on by the Great Leap Forward and the abolishment of traditional values under the Cultural Revolution has led to a breakdown in these principles and a shift towards more capitalistic priorities. Although it is impossible to generalize the entire population, there is clearly less of a sense of wider community or moral responsibility due governmental laws that lead to a widespread fear of extortion for those who witness injiry.
If real change is to be affected, there will need to be harsher crackdowns on corruption across all levels, as opposed to the current situation, and the government needs to stop disincentivizing people to help sufferers through policy. Though President Xi Jinping has claimed to abide by a “Zero tolerance” stance on corruption, the only way forward is through transparency, and in a heavily monitored and censored police state where cover ups to “save face” are routine, this cannot happen. As Aaron L.Friedberg of The Diplomat has put it, “Xi Jinping’s corruption crackdown won’t succeed unless he acknowledges the system is the problem”.
While China has managed to grow and develop its economy at an astonishing rate, its lack of community and moral responsibility leave a bitter taste in the mouth and much to be desired. One thing is certain, in a society where its own government cannot be relied upon to take responsibility or assume the moral high ground, there will exist a moral vacuum.
*Passersby is the plural of passerby
** The use of the expression “Tuhao” refers to the nouveau riche, described as a class of people who have attained great wealth but lack decorum
*** Bo Xi Lai- Former CCP Secretary of Chongqing and Politburo member, convicted on charges of corruption and murder, currently serving life imprisonment sentence
Sources are in hyperlinks
