Our August issue on manufacturing (”Made in China,” August 2006) has a column by Lyn Jeffery about a fast-growing Chinese website, Alibaba.com. Liz found this discussion of what guanxi is: What is guanxi? This is well worth a look. I like it because it’s simple and practical, with questions we need to keep in mind. Some people, for example, think that guanxi is really just about paying bribes.

Guanxi Online also has a wiki with some interesting, more scholarly, analysis of guanxi, with contributions from Barry Wellman, a well-known sociologist who studies Internet communities and networks.

In September’s issue, we’ll be looking at guanxi, social media (including blogs, BBS, and sites such as Cyworld), and much more.