Will economic reform along with political repression succeed result in the Democratization of china - Research Paper Example

?Running head: DEMOCRATIZATION OF CHINA Will economic reform along with political repression succeed result in the Democratization of china? Insert Name Insert Course Title Insert Instructor’s Name 6th. April 2011 Democratization of china Introduction Democratization is a way in which a political system of a country becomes democratic; this can include the right of citizens to vote thus determining their leaders in a country. According to Rummel, democracy can be achieved by regular election; through each particular vote counts, thus leaders are chosen to represent the people and policies that governors are chosen. The right for every citizen to vote is a second way of democracy, and the third is the right for any citizen with the required qualification to vie for the highest office and the right to form political parties in a country. Rummel (Para. 5) further notes that, democratization “means that a people rule themselves through periodic elections of the highest leaders in which nearly all adults can participate for which offices they are eligible and under the rule of law.” In addition, democracy is sometimes associated with conditions such as the freedom of the media in criticizing the government, its leaders and the policies implemented. Secondly, there is the freedom of more than one political party to competing for power in a country. The third is that the most popular and elected leader is the head of government. In addition, according to Hauss (Para. 6), democracy is important since it yields to peace in a country. Hence, there is stable peace in democracies as a result of tolerance, trust, cooperation, and reconciliation within a country especially when conflicts arise. The author adds that, just as democratization is important when achieved, it is also difficult to achieve it. The ethnic tensions that result to conflicting issues may create mistrust and intolerance that will yield to lack of cooperation. However, democracy should be effective for results to be evident. China and democracy According to Harding (Para. 3), the Chinese communist party (CCP), had shown signs of embarking on democracy reforms since some leaders of the party had endorsed some issues of democracy, thus showing signs of gradual rise of democracy. However, the Chinese communist party did not choose democratization as one of its strategies in the enhancement of stability in the political system. Therefore, direct elections are still limited to the lowest level and nominations are normally controlled by the party. In China, the freedom of non-governmental organizations is limited. In addition, the press in China is usually restricted to some information and so is the internet, thus indicating lack of freedom of the media, which is usually a priority in a democratic nation. The Chinese communist party has only been enhancing more forms of authoritarianism, thus evidently showing that the leaders of this party fear that pluralism may be a risky move in terms of political power and in the continuation of foreign policies, which, ironically, are viewed as of low value by the citizens. In addition, the middle class, which lead to the economic development, was said to be a driver in the promotion of democracy. However, the middle class usually demand for a voice in politics and in China, this group has been rewarded with high salaries, a political voice, and it is represented in the Chinese communist party. These have been the strategies used by the communist party to keep the middle class opposition low. Since the middle class members seem to have an interest in democracy, the country has to attend to their demands both politically and economically, so that they may loose their interest for democratization. The China’s middle class believe that the low levels of education and poverty in some part of the country would yield to unworthiness of democracy. Nevertheless, Harding (Para. 9) further argues that, in china for the past years it would have been easier to implement democratic mechanisms by abolishing the property restrictions, restrictions on the right to vote, and poll taxes. However, such restrictions are not feasible today, therefore deeming it easier to resist democratization. Nevertheless, China’s working class group poses as a threat to the communist party since they would put the Chinese government under pressure for democratization. This is due to the many grievances associated with this group, which range from corruption to poverty. Normally, the CCP deals with such protest in an ironic strategy. First, it addresses the problem, and then it is lenient with the participants of the protest, but deals effectively with the leader of such protests (Harding, Para. 11). Based on the Tiananmen Square protests in 1989, which is considered a massacre, the protests were non-violent and were inclusive of students and other citizens. These protests were as a result of the death of general secretary Hu Yaobang, a party official who supported liberalization in politics. The protests continued a week after Hu’s death and on the 4th of June, the military opened fire to the protestors leading to loss of innocent lives and arrests of several supporters were conducted. However, according to Richelson and Evans (1999), such protests were as a result of the dissatisfaction of the Chinese government rule, since the students carried banners that indicated “long live democracy.’ In addition, these demonstrations were as a result of the widespread corruption in the government at that time; the demonstrators insisted on justice, stability and order, (Kleinbrod, pp17). Nevertheless, the middle class group seems to be the only hope for China’s democracy, but this could only occur if they are unsatisfied by the government’s resources and further decide on pushing for democracy. The Chinese communist party can also decide to face their fear of democracy by implementing and encouraging its measures in the country. Will economic reform along with political repression succeed result in the Democratization of China? Economic reforms are those changes that take place in a country aimed at improving the economic efficiency. According to Dorn (566), reforms are the only solution for China, and he insists that if reforms are not implemented now, they will have to be implemented in the future. However, corruption is the main hindrance of economic reforms in china. Economic reform in China was first initiated in late1970s, and since then, China has been the fastest growing economy. China was even speculated to grow to be the world’s largest economy as long as its government continues to enhance the economic reforms. However, it is evident through China’s history in the pat that development outweighs democracy. While development is a top to down process, democratization remains a struggle at the bottom. However, a profound impact of the economic development in china is the high rate of political liberalization in the country. President Hu Jintao who is the current china’s president implemented policies that decreased further the freedom of media and even led to prosecution of journalists. However, despite online content restrictions, china has over 150 million internet users, but it is unfair that only state agencies have a right to own media companies. Nevertheless, the introduction of internet in China has facilitated effective communication; this has created the freedom of speech in China where the citizens can air their grievances and concerns through discussions over the internet. The internet also enables citizens to be well informed about the issue that surrounds their country. Since protests are not encouraged by Chinese government, the use of internet provides speed and anonymity, thus creating online protests. It is however evident that if democracy is not granted to citizens, they will seek for the democracy themselves. Despite China experiencing economic growth, political rights and political participation are still restricted in the country, since the Chinese communist party still enjoys monopoly of power. It is evident that China encourages economic reforms via allowing trade with other countries, encouraging entrepreneurs, and investors in the country, thus leading to its growth and development. However, the country’s economic development only leads to a strong China state but with a delayed political liberalization and a weak labor force. Therefore, China is stagnant in the political field. In addition, China economic reforms that have led to economic development will not necessarily lead to democracy, since democracy is for the citizens and it can be implemented regardless of the economic status of a country. It is not obvious that economic development can lead to political liberalization, since politics in China occur in the following ways; excessive fees and taxes are charged in the rural area, forceful acquiring of land from citizens, and unfairly compensating for that land. The brutality of military officer in case of protests like in the Tiananmen Square protests in 1989. Ironically, such protests that were held by demonstrators were as a result of evacuation of residents from their apartments, demand for civil right and political freedom. However, in the China government trying to work on democracy it still instills rules that regulates the freedom of media and is still limited to political freedom. According to Brown (pp 113), China’s political system is inclusive of leaders who are not accountable to their voters; hence, changing the authoritative policies could yield to effective leaders. In addition, the existence of Chinese communist party for a long time without an opposing party is an evident case of monopoly in the political system. Though China’s political environment is much better than that of twenty-five years ago, there is need for changes in the political system. However, the nation as a whole must be ready to cooperate to create a political reform. According to Schultz and Schultz (pp 3), political repression occurs when a government silences and suppresses the efforts of its challengers to oppose on government sanctions or unfair rule. Some of these actions may lead to assaults, arrest, and abolishment of movements. This is evident in China where political freedom is limited and protests may result to arrests and prosecution of involved officials. Political repression cannot yield to democracy even if it is accompanied by economic development. However, the political repression hinders democratization. In addition, democracy involves freedom of media to criticize the government, freedom of party formations, freedom of voting, and the fact that all adults are eligible to vote and each of their vote counts. However, China is known as an authoritarian capitalism since it consists of one party that acts as a monopoly. Nevertheless, according to Coakley, China has been under pressure by the united nations of human rights regarding the Tiananmen Square massacre. This is due to the innocent lost of lives that occurred as a result of repression by the then Chinese government. However, it is evident that, the middle class group is no longer the hope for democracy; they can only be the drivers of democracy if they cease to play by the rules of the government and hence lead the nation toward democracy. Conclusion China should not at any cost rely on the middle class group to push for democratization and china can be said to be a capitalist nation without the essence of democracy. It is evident that China’s economy is improving; hence, as a result, it is generating a lot of income and benefits to the Chinese citizens, thus most citizens are content with their status quo if the situation keeps getting better. Thus, it seems like the citizens are being swayed away by the current developments and forgetting the need for an effective democracy. However, Since the Economic Reform in the 1970’s, China has achieved an admirable level of economic growth. Nevertheless, it seemed almost like China values economic wealth more compared to political democracy. Although the middle class number is increasing, they only play by the governments rules thus see no need for democracy. Since every country in the world had different process of democratization with different values, china will some day find the need for democratization and will finally implement it. However, for China to do away with the authoritative regime, it must work towards achieving democracy. It is only then that changes will be evident political wise and new leaders will emerge. Nevertheless, democratization is important for each country, citizens feel appreciated while they are able to air their views through freedom of speech. Effective democracy should be aimed at empower citizens and the political rights involved should be respected by people. Works Cited Brown, Nathan. The Dynamics of Democratization: Dictatorship, Development, and Diffusion. Maryland: JHU Press Publisher. 2011. Coakley, Victoria. "China Political Repression in the International Spotlight" [1996] H-Rights Def 30; (1996) Human Rights Defender. Political Repression in China. 1996. 06 May 2011. http://kirra.austlii.edu.au/au/journals/HRightsDef/1996/30.html Dorn, James. Economic reform in china. 1998. 06 May 2011. http://www.cato.org/pubs/journal/cj8n3/cj8n3-1.pdf. Harding, Harry. University of Virginia. Why hasn’t china democratized? January 7, 2010. 06 May 2011. http://thinkingaboutasia.blogspot.com/2010/01/why-hasnt-china-democratized.html Hauss, Charles. “Democratization” beyond intractability. 2003. 06 May 2011. http://www.beyondintractability.org/essay/democratization/. Kleinbrod, Annette. The Chinese Capital Market: Performance, Parameters for Further Evolution, and Implications for Development. Berlin: DUV Publisher. 2006 Richelson, Jeffery and Evans, Michael. The declassified history; Tiananmen Square. 1999. 06 May 2011. http://www.gwu.edu/~nsarchiv/NSAEBB/NSAEBB16/documents/index.html#1-6. Rummel, R. Democratization. Garland Publishing. 1996. 06 May 2011. http://www.hawaii.edu/powerkills/DEMOC.HTM. Schultz, Bud and Schultz, Ruth. The price of dissent: testimonies to political repression in America. California: University of California Press Publisher. 2001. Read More