“Mainlandization at a faster pace than before” – Zhidong Hao

Interview with the author of Macau History and Society, Second Edition
By João Paulo Meneses
Macau Business
June 14, 2020

A leading sociologist who has been conducting research on Macau affairs argues that the pace of ‘mainlandization’ of the local society has taken a new turn in recent years, a phenomenon that Zhidong Hao reflects in the newly launched second edition of his landmark volume “Macau History and Society”. The first edition was published in 2010, also by the Hong Kong University Press, and has long been out of print.

The book is presented as “the most authoritative, comprehensive, and up-to-date account of Macau, from its inception as a Portuguese colony to its present-day status as a special administrative region”, and several experts, such as Jin Guoping from the Center for Macaology of Jinan University, understand that the book “is a masterpiece in the field and will help Macau studies reach an international audience”, as “it explains rich and complex historical materials with a lively style and vivid descriptions.”

Macau is described as a place “where cultures interact”, and the book “shows how such an interaction has been a source of both opportunities and tension.” In addition, Hao shows how the city has been uniquely exposed to local, regional, and global forces, the conjunction of which has demanded a constant effort from the people of Macau because they are expected to be cosmopolitan, yet uniquely local. The essence of their identity thus remains a fascinating subject of research. . . .

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Featured Book: Macau History and Society, Second Edition