The Rat People
- 272pagine
- 10 ore di lettura
A shocking exploration of Beijing's notorious underground reveals the human cost of capitalism, where over 1 million residents live in inhumane conditions. China's rapid economic growth, which has seen its GDP soar from 214 billion USD in 1978 to an estimated 14 trillion USD in 2019, has come at a significant price. This transformation has largely been driven by mingong, urban migrant workers—former peasant farmers who were celebrated for their role in China's economic miracle. However, many of them and their descendants now reside underground in Beijing, facing dire living conditions devoid of light, water, and sanitation. Author Patrick Saint-Paul spent two years among the "rat people" (shuzu), living in a network of deep tunnels and former bomb shelters built during the Cold War. These mingong migrate from across the nation seeking better job opportunities but often find themselves unable to afford housing due to their meager wages. The dream of prosperity for all in China turns out to be a bitter illusion for many. Through the individual stories of the shizu, Saint-Paul crafts a cautionary tale about the extreme lengths individuals will go to for a better life and the profound human cost associated with the modern economy.