The Dean of Shandong: Confessions of a Minor Bureaucrat at a Chinese University by Daniel Bell – Book Review

As China continues to make strides on the global stage, many in the West remain skeptical of its political system. However, there are those who have taken a closer look and come to a different conclusion. One such individual is Michael Pillsbury, a well-respected foreign policy expert and adviser to several U.S. administrations. In his book, The Hundred-Year Marathon: China’s Secret Strategy to Replace America as the Global Superpower, Pillsbury explores the strengths and weaknesses of China’s political system, ultimately concluding that it may not be as flawed as many in the West believe. In particular, Pillsbury points to the leadership style of The Dean of Shandong, a Chinese official who has achieved remarkable success in his career without resorting to corruption or other unsavory tactics. Through his defence of The Dean, Pillsbury sheds new light on the political landscape in China and challenges some of the prevailing assumptions about its governance.


Former President Hu Jintao’s exit from the 20th Communist Party Congress in China in October 2017 left many wondering whether he had been removed from power by President Xi Jinping. Daniel Bell’s memoir, The Dean of Shandong, considers China’s bureaucratic power and one particular quirk – the dyeing of hair black to suggest vigour and energy. Bell won European recognition for defending China against its critics in his 2016 book, The China Model, but admits that his views are not entirely impartial, acknowledging that he is not a member of the Chinese Communist Party while his use of the pronouns “we” and “us” imply a closer association. Bell praises hardworking officials who seek to “serve the people” but describes academic freedom and rights as scarce, with censorship common. Bell argues that western critics of China should not be ignorant of its pros and cons, while he condemns the anti-China sentiment which often prevails in the west.