Ann Lee, a professor at New York University and former visiting professor of Peking University, gives her latest analysis of two very important countries in the world -- China and the U.S. -- in her latest book "What the U.S. Can Learn from China."

Ann Lee, author of the book "What the U.S. Can Learn from China." [File photo]

The book became a bestseller shortly after its publication and still ranks high on the Amazon.com listing.

A Chinese American, Lee is not just a scholar but also someone who has long been immersed in two different cultures, which gives the book its professional, authoritative and cross-cultural angles. After years of observing, researching and reflecting, Lee offered her views on how the U.S. needs to learn from China.

Lee's conclusion stems from her precise and deep perception of both countries. China is growing in a way totally different from the so-called traditional Western model, which makes it hard for Westerners to understand and accept. This feeling clearly comes from or contributes to a misunderstanding of China. As Josh Lerner, professor with Harvard Business School, commented in his review of the book, "Misconceptions abound about China and how it works today. Ann Lee's book takes a fresh and controversial look at the Chinese system and its strengths."

Lee said the reason for China's success over the past decades lies in its core values and methodologies that have been shaped by the nation's long history and have mentored the behaviors of several generations of Chinese. China's leaders prove that they can create positive change throughout their entire careers by installing wise policies for governing the country and winning the support of the public through their own efforts. Lee believes that this system of authority actually resonates strongly with Western values, and may even be used to strengthen today's democratic institutions.

Yet no matter what point Lee wants to prove -- be it that of China following a basic democratic model or this Chinese model being of acceptable use to the U.S. -- her conclusions show that this particular model is an effective one, and one supported by the public. And herein we can find the lesson the U.S. should draw from China.

At the same time, Lee's conclusion relies on the fact that without China's economic growth, the U.S. together with several other Western countries could have hit rock bottom ten years ago when the Internet bubble burst. China's growth has created huge sales volume for the U.S. in overseas countries, as well as lowered labor costs and borrowing costs brought on by China's investments in U.S. government securities.

There is a saying that "culture is the mother of a political system." Lee believes the success of China can be found in Confucianism, saying that Confucianism is in the blood of most Chinese. After having been passed on from generation to generation for centuries, China doesn't need any textbook, law or media to get millions of people to accept these values.

Lee did not put forward something new when summarizing the core concepts of Confucianism -- e.g. the main goal of any individual person is to develop society, to be moral and treat everyone as you would like for them to treat you. What is surprising however, is that she believes American and Chinese cultures do have something in common. Lee claims the foundation of Confucian thought is similar to that of several Christian concepts, such as the idea of loving your neighbors as you would love yourself.

Furthermore, Lee points out that China is using Confucian thought to deal with many issues, whereas the U.S. basically acts in a rather more careless way towards others, not considering the consequences and only focusing on earning money. Apparently, they can learn from China, she writes. "Let's imagine a Wall Street under a Confucian influence. The financial crisis may never happen again. Why? Confucian bankers would be more concerned about channeling their energies and capital toward people and ideas that contribute to society and do valuable things than with the sole purpose of getting wealthy. Confucian bankers would be better stewards of capital and financial system because they would understand that even if they were the last ones standing in a world destroyed by greed and short-term behavior, it would not be a world worth living in."

In addition, Confucianism values education and promotes thrift and plain living, which can serve as an example for the American people to fix their nation's severe economic and social problems.

Lee is well aware of the difficulties that come with any culture change, and that it's even harder to get people to accept that of another nation. Therefore, she said the U.S. needs to adjust its policy to change the current mainstream cultural trend through the efforts of multiple generations. Overall, she is confident about the possibilities for change, claiming the way China encourages its media, government and social organizations to develop the Confucian principles and traditional thought can be studied by the U.S. as to promote the renewal of morality and change the pure core of people's lives.

In the chapter "Meritocracy," Lee criticizes the U.S. political system for creating an invisible elite, which does not take responsibility for anyone, does not answer to anyone and is indifferent to the public's interest. The solution Lee offers is to let more elites become government officials, answering to the people rather than the investors.

Lee's book proves helpful in gaining more insight into the misunderstandings between China and the U.S., and finding a way to resolve the issues -- which is the aim she mentions in the final chapter "Cocreating a Better World." Although the book's title may read "What the U.S. Can Learn from China," its epilogue is called "What China Can Learn from America," and it repeats the viewpoint given in the very beginning of the book that no country, including China and the U.S., has a monopoly on morality and knowledge, but seeing their own merits and demerits can avoid the pitfalls of weaknesses and multiply advantages. For a Chinese person, herein probably lies the most significant reason for reading this book.

The author is a scholar of politics living in France and the author of China Can Win.

This review was first published in Chinese and translated by Zhang Fang.

Opinion articles reflect the views of their authors, not necessarily those of China.org.cn.

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