The system-wide social and economic transformations experienced by China have profoundly affected social and psychological relations. Rong Zeng and Patricia Greenfield studied the words used in 277,189 Chinese language books published in the few decades, finding evidence rising individualism and materialism in concert with growing urbanism, increasing wealth and higher levels of formal education.

When Jennifer Pan and Yiqing Xu posted their new paper, “China’s Ideological Spectrum,” recently, it marked the first time that anyone has provided large-scale empirical data on the ideological shifts and trends within the Chinese population.

Many programs for studying abroad in China have seen a significant drop in recent years, which is worrisome since the U.S-China relationship hinges on cultural exchange. Fortunately, new programs like the Schwarzman Scholars and 10,000 Strong Initiative are leading the push in building young leaders with a better understanding of China in the U.S.

China has grown rapidly in influence and ability to act in the international arena. That means it faces bigger, tougher and ever more urgent challenges. Therefore, there is a growing need for more high quality think tanks which can offer solutions to these challenges by mining the wisdom in the broader society.

While conversations about China’s environmental challenges are often dominated by coal, the culprit for the endless smoggy days in cities across the country, progress in cleaning the air cannot be achieved without greater attention to resource interdependencies from an integrated water-energy-food lens. Susuan Chan Shifflett outlines sustainable policy development that is particularly promising for Sino-U.S. collaboration.

Given the sheer size of China, its development has the ability to impact the world. With its rapid growth, China is often put under the international spotlight. However, China is very different from many countries in terms of its cultural traditions, social system, development path, and value systems.

With nearly 250,000 Chinese students studying in the United States, conflicts have arisen between students when discussing politics, raising into question the overall efficacy of direct political exchange. Based on extensive research, Henry Chiu Hail suggests that universities can do more to approach Chinese issues with nuance and diplomacy, and encourage friendly socialization between Chinese and Americans. Only then can universities establish the solidarity upon which weightier issues can be discussed.

Substantial international attention has been focused on this year’s meeting of China’s National People’s Congress (NPC) and the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Committee (CPPCC), much of it misguided and/or malicious. But there is a real reason for the Congress’s importance.

Crowded cities, interrupted Internet, pollution and lower job prospects are among the reasons for an apparent exodus of foreigners from China. The Chinese government is attracting a new generation of adaptable, entrepreneurial expats with innovations like the Shanghai Free Trade Zone, which circumscribes red-tape business registration, and free work spaces for start-ups.

In this premiere episode of a new Chinese Youku series produced by Guancha.cn, Shanghai scholar/entrepreneur Eric X. Li talks with political scientist Francis Fukuyama about his latest book: “Political Order and Political Decay.”