The new China: big brother, brave new world or harmonious society?

In this paper I examine three textual mythologies regarding China's evolving present. These are an Orwellian world of covert and overt state control; a Brave New World dystopia where the spirit of the people is subsumed in hedonistic distractions; and finally I assess the progress towards the official vision of the current Beijing authorities: the 'harmonious society'. These three 'pulls' of the future are juxtaposed with certain key 'pushes' and 'weights', and I explore their interplay within a 'futures triangle'. Finally, I suggest whether any of these mythologies is likely play a significant role in the possible futures of China.