Anthropologist Biao Xiang Sheds Light on Chinese Youth's Social Anxieties
Biao Xiang from the Max Planck Institute has become an academic guide and source of inspiration for the young generation overwhelmed by economic uncertainty and intense competition in China.
The frustration experienced by Chinese youth in the face of intense competition and social pressures has turned 54-year-old anthropologist Biao Xiang into an unexpected figure. Analyzing the challenges of modern life from an academic perspective, Xiang makes sense of the anxieties experienced by young people and offers them a new perspective.
The Rise of an Academic Idol
Biao Xiang, Director of the Max Planck Institute for Social Anthropology, draws attention with his analyses addressing the systemic problems experienced by Chinese youth, unlike traditional pop culture figures. Young people see his academic background as a guide by connecting it with the difficulties in their own lives.
Challenges of Modern Life and 'Involution'
Xiang explains the extreme competition in China's education system and job insecurity through the concept of 'involution'. Arguing that the traditional belief that working hard brings success is no longer valid, the anthropologist analyzes the impasses experienced by young people during this transformation process.
New Concepts and Quests for Solutions
While the anthropologist defines the high-pressure survival struggle of young people as 'swimming', he suggests the concept of the 'close circle' for their quests for meaning. Encouraging individuals to find meaning in their own close circles rather than focusing on macro systems, this approach receives support from large masses.
Social Impact and Future Vision
Despite criticisms from academic circles, Xiang continues to meet with young people at public events, aiming to empower individuals to make their own decisions. Events held in centers such as Singapore reveal the young people's search for a new life narrative.