Analysis of James Mann's Article - Essay Example

Article review (Institution) (Module) (Grade/Course) (Tutor’s Name) 19th May 2009 Introduction China has in the last two decades featured prominently in the life of Americans. The image derived from these Americans is both positive and negative. However, the conventional American perception of china is that of a lesser state not only economically and politically but also socially. The growth of China has affected the development of the American economy negatively. This has led to more attention being given to the Chinese American relations as two global powers houses. In addition, the relationship between the two has not been that open. Cheung (1998) says that the relationship between the two in the last few decades been based on mistrust and suspicion. The same source also adds that “the US perception of China was a combination of fear of the spread of communism and the change in perception of American decision makers towards the world economy” (Cheung, p. 98). In the current global financial crisis, China is fairing well while the American economy is straining. Though the effects have been felt as far as China, the country is fairing well throwing questions on the sustainability of American economic dominance in the global arena. Mann (2007) writes on the American perception of China where he depicts various possible scenarios. This paper will discuss the three scenarios as suggested by Mann in his speech to the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission in discussing U.S.-China Relationship: Economics and Security in Perspective. This paper will thus analyze in detail the various possible scenarios in the American perception of the People’s Republic of China. Soothing stage According to Mann (2007), this stage is characterized by American imagination that “China’s political system will inevitably move towards liberalization and democracy” (P, 3). With the coming political change, there are other expectations that are expected to follow suite such liberalization of trade and democracy. Mann James and Mann Jim (2007) write that this perception is present among Chinese sympathizers who are more optimistic of the future of the country. They view that china is headed in the right direction and is posed to embrace democracy even more and open up to foreign trade and governance. Cases have been brought forward to suggest that China has been moving towards capitalism than the ruling Communist Party is willing to admit. In fact, visit China today and you find the most dynamic capitalist nation in the world. In 2005, it had the distinction of being the world’s fastest-growing major economy. China is the manufacturing hub of the globe. It’s is also moving quickly into the highest of high technologies. It already graduates more computer engineers every year than the United States (Reich, 2006). The rise of a rich middle class is said to be the biggest growth booster of the country’s economy. According to Cheung (1998), this class is helping china not only to support its industries by providing a ready market but also providing it with the necessary skills. Zhao (2003) traces the commencement of the soothing stage in the 1980’s during the reign of President Ronald Reagan. He writes that on a visit to China, the president was a bit hesitant in fully recognizing the Chinese communism policy by calling the state as the “so called communist”. However, it is important to note during presidents’ Regan reign, the cold was in top gear and hence his comments might be viewed to have been aimed at depicting China not as Soviet oriented as the political ideologies would suggest Zhao (2003). Therefore, a continued growth phase for China was previously favored by the Americans as it neutralized the power of the Soviet Union. However with the collapse of the Soviet Union, a fraction of Americans remained indifferent over the fate of China until recently. In the recent past, there has been increased interaction between China and America both economically and socially. American culture is growing in popularity in China while Chinese food has been a popular delicacy in America. As such, China and America are seen to develop support one another in the global platform. Lewis and Litai (2003) thus say that change and reform in China are most felt in the social realm. They say that the underlying changes that have been accompanied by rapid economic growth have created deep internal problems to the government forcing it to undertake a more transparent political way. Upheaval Scenario Mann (2007) theorizes another paradigm adopted by America. Mann, (p,3) “predicts that China is headed for some sort of major disaster, such as an economic collapse or political disintegration, because it won’t be able to maintain political stability while continuing on its current course.” According to him the fall of China is being preceded by the proliferation of labor strikes, farmers’ protests, riots over environmental degradation and ethnic strife. The fall of China is also highlighted by the controversy in global activities. (Cheung, 1998) mentions China’s involvement with Sudan which is highly attributed to the ongoing power struggle in the country and the Darfur genocide. Reich says “the gap between China’s rich and poor is turning into a chasm. China’s innovators, investors, and captains of industry are richly rewarded. They live in luxury housing developments whose streets are lined with McMansions. They feed in fancy restaurants, and relax in five-star hotels and resorts” (Cheung, 240). China’s poor live in a different world. Mao Tse Tung had envisioned China to have equal distribution of wealth in all regions and especially for the rural folks. However, the situation is desperately the opposite with the rural people growing poorer and poorer. This is attributed to low prices of farm products and inefficiencies in farming due to use of primitive farming methods. On the other hand, with China constituting a sixth of the global population, analysts predict a population explosion in the country. This will result to situation whereby the country’s resources cannot support such an enormous population if its growth in the new twenty years is not restrained. In fact some attribute the extreme climatic conditions such as floods that have of late been common in china to the disturbance in the ecological balance in the region caused by rampant and poorly managed exploitation of natural resources (Zhao, 2000). Continued suppression of political liberalization is a realistic scenario. Pundits say that China’s economic growth has taken place at the cost of democracy. As such, if democracy was to be practiced in the country, then the economic growth being witnessed will stop and the economy thrown into chaos. Lewis and Litai (2003) give an example of the situation presented by corrupt local officials who incite villagers in the rural areas such as in Jiangxi and Guangdong provinces to protest for lower taxes or even against senior officials on their behalf. Again, rural urban migration has really strained the available social amenities in the urban areas. The result has been social strife thus leading to a chaotic situation where the population is dissatisfied with government performance. No change Mann assumes another possible scenario based on China not undergoing any fundamental changes in its political and economic policies. He imagines “a wealthier, more powerful China continues to be run by a one-party regime that continues to repress organized political dissent much as it does today; and yet at the same time China is also open to the outside world and, indeed, is deeply intertwined with the rest of the world through trade, investment and other economic ties” (Mann, p, 3). This scenario basically predicts a status quo whereby China will not develop into an upheaval and again that it would grow and open up as is the case with the soothing scenario. Reich predicts that China can continue with its growth path without necessarily becoming more democratic as it moves into embracing capitalism to some extent. Mann hints that the status quo in Chinese politics might be confused with change in the next few decades. He imagines a situation whereby the names of the political class and other government functions will be changed in order to seem democratic but no real change will have taken place. He gives an example of the changing of the Department of Propaganda into the Department of Publicity. Ideally the Department of Publicity will serve the same functions as its predecessor albeit with a different and more democratically acceptable name without necessarily adhering to democratic ideologies (Mann James & Mann, Jim 2007). The idea of democracy the Chinese way is seen as putting the interests of the community first other than those of the individual. This orthodox interpretation of unity among the Chinese was first introduced by Deng Xiapong in 1979. Unity of interest thus obscured the articulate interpretation of state and society. While this was “democracy” in Deng’s view, critics challenged the idea over its validity. This also brought about the separation of state and society and that society was being regarded as a plurality of social interest. The present government is somehow based on the same principles where the Communist Party has set itself far from the people though its actions are claimed to be representative of the peoples’ interest. As such, with such a mindset, China is not posed for change. The same political ideologies that were in use 20 years ago are still in use and the possibility of change is low (Zhao, 2003). Thus Mann’s prediction of an unchanged China holds. Conclusion Among the three scenarios presented by Mann, it appears that historical and empirical evidence point that china will undergo change in a “Chinese” manner. This is because the American perception of the right “change” and progress in democracy is measured in American terms. As a nation with a totally different culture and relatively homogenous population in its composition, China alone will define its destiny far from the “American” way. Nevertheless, as the country grows economically, it is opening up to foreign nations something that will impact on governance in the country in a more significant level than currently. References Cheung, G. Market liberalism: American foreign policy toward China, New York: Transaction Publishers, 1998 Lewis, J. and Litai, X. “Social Change and Political Reform in China: Meeting the Challenge of Success”, The China Quarterly 2003 Mann, (2007) U.S.-China Relationship: Economics and Security in Perspective Mann, James and Mann, Jim The China fantasy: how our leaders explain away Chinese repression, New York: Viking, 2007 Reich Roberts, “China: Capitalism Doesn't Require Democracy”, January 10, 2006 http://www.commondreams.org/views06/0110-42.htm, (Accessed June 2 2009) Zhao, S. Chinese foreign policy: pragmatism and strategic behavior, London: M.E. Sharpe, 2003 Zhao, S. China and democracy: the prospect for a democratic China, London: Routledge 2000 Read More