Macau History and Society, Second Edition

Macau History and Society is 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. In this new edition, Zhidong Hao includes research on the most pressing issues facing Macau: ethnic and class stratification, the politics of education, and problems related to the gambling industry.

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

Hao Zhidong is emeritus professor of sociology at the University of Macau.

“Professor Hao’s book is both erudite and analytical, yet a surprisingly easy and entertaining text to read. He manages to show how the narratives of Macau’s past can lead us to a clear analysis of the present. The book masterfully combines the detailed insights of a historian with the analytical insight of a sociologist.” —Børge Bakken, College of Asia and the Pacific, Australian National University

“There are many books in Macau studies but very rarely are they in English. This is one of them. It explains rich and complex historical materials with lively style and vivid descriptions. The book is a masterpiece in the field and will help Macau studies to reach an international audience.” —Jin Guoping, Center for Macaology, Jinan University