Newswise — Many analysts believe that the Olympic Games in Beijing will be a coming out party for the world to see China's economic progress. Randall Doyle, CMU history faculty member and an authority on northeast Asia, believes that the Games also could bring unwanted attention to the social and political problems in China.
A few of Doyle's initial thoughts on the subject:
* "I believe these games will bring, perhaps, unwanted attention to China's domestic difficulties, such as pollution, corruption, the growing gap between the haves and have-nots, and its rampant political repression, which has led to the arrests of hundreds of writers and intellectuals who differed with the central government over the issues mentioned above."
* "I expect China to make the grand gesture and invite the Dalai Lama to the opening events on August 8. This would completely muffle any global criticism of the government's actions in this province during the past few months."
* "China will do everything in its power to ensure the success of these Games as its economic and political futures are literally riding on achieving positive results. Its future influence, especially in East Asia, is on the line."
Doyle is an authority on the history, politics, economy and trade in Australia and northeast Asia, including Korea, Japan and China. His research focuses on U.S. foreign policy and politics, Australian environmental politics, the Pacific Rim, and the Asia-Pacific. He also can speak on military issues in the Asia-Pacific and changing global dynamics. He is the author of "America and China: Asia-Pacific Rim Hegemony in the Twenty-First Century" and "America and Australia: Writings and Observations from the 'Empire' and 'Van Dieman's Land.'"
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