Guanxi:A Comparative

Analysis between Social Relationships in the East andWest

By Paul, Trevor, Bolin, Jerry, and Sophie

Guanxi

GuanGate or Hurdle

XiTie, Relationship, Connection

Guanxipass the gate and get connected

What will we talk about?

How it affectsPeople in the US and ChinaBusiness in the US and China

○ legalityGovernment in the US and China

○ corruption

Origins of Guanxi

China’s long history of unificationSolidified Social Structure

Influence of PhilosophiesConfucianismTaoism

Lack of Feudal System

Confucianism Li -“structure” “propriety” or “virtue” Wu lin

Sovereign to subject Parent to child Husband to wife Elder to younger sibling Friend to friend

Lian – personal face Ren and xiao Mianzi

Taoism

Tao Te Ching Lao Zi Ying and Yang Duality Harmonious with nature Softened Confucianism hardness

From Philosophy to Practice

Different forms of interactions

Jia-ren Family MembersNo ReciporcityAffecionate

Sheng-renStrangersHighly Reciprocal and UtilitarianNo Affection

Shou-renMixtureFriendship

Guanxi – Business to Business

Information sharingWhen is it okay?

PartnershipsTrust

Business to Government

Bureaucratic processEfficiency vs Corruption

United StatesLobbyists

ChinaGuanxi

How guanxi changed

Early onMostly jia-ren and shou-ren

Rise of CommunismAffected every day life

Early transitionalMostly business

Modern dayEnhanced networkingSheng-ren

Difference between East and West Westerners tend to have clear lines

drawn in terms of social circles, ie us vs them.

Differences in Gift Giving

Expectation of Returns

Broadening Definition

Brand ReputationA new form of Guanxi?

Cronyism vs Skill SharingGood old boysProfessionalism

Is Guanxi Desirable?

Recap

How it affectsPeople in the US and ChinaBusiness in the US and China

○ legalityGovernment in the US and China

○ corruption

Any Questions?