Democratization of China, External and Internal Pressure on China - Essay Example

Democratization of China China could become a democratic country by the year 2020, and if China were to officially embrace democratic norms at all levels officially, it could place more pressure on itself to reform institutions. For any country, changing political path is not an easy task. This is true to say because not only must governmental processes be transformed, but the people as well must be ready for such change. Regarding China’s political history, some people find the task of China changing from a socialist state to democratic state a momentous one. However, many people feel that the democratization of China is a step-by-step process, and it’s just a matter of time when China will turn totally democratic. One wonders though how long it could take for these kinds of changes to take place in China. In China, with many people at the government level being strongly influenced by the controlling socialist traditions and forces, it might be difficult for them to accept democratic change. It is thought that the generation currently in the government and main controlling bodies will eventually pass out of power. There is a chance then the controlling bodies will change their way of thinking. However, the people in China’s society will not pass on so soon, and it is their views that would certainly count in the development of a democratic state (Brook & Frolic, 1997, 25-28). Though opposing forces among the people are neo-authoritarianism and neo-conservatism, the general mood is pro-democracy. Significance of the Massacre at Tienaman Square: One positive aspect of the people’s views is that, over the past 15 to 20 years, the youth has largely been in favor of democratization. One example of democratic expression by youth was observed at Tienaman Square. Here, in the early 1990s, students in China assembled to carry out a protest, but were dispersed when the forces came down harshly on them and massacred many. This was certainly a black day for chances of democratizing China (Brook & Frolic, 1997, 25-28). Since this incident was not so long ago, people wonder what the government’s mood towards democracy really is. However, since the gruesome incident at Tienaman Square there have been positive changes as well (Ding, 2002, 25-31). China Signs the WTO Agreement: One positive change regarding democratizing China is highlighted by China’s entry to the World Trade Organization (WTO). This means that international democratic trade law applies to China like it does to other member countries of the WTO. The manner in which China is protected under trade law like other democratic countries is a positive sign (Bhattasali & Martin, 2004, 22-30). Under the WTO agreement, China now allows countries to introduce their products in China, and importers in China operate with more liberty now. Also, China gains from this relationship, particular because of its mass production and low cost production capabilities, as it can introduce its products in other member countries as well. However, with each country it trades, it might have clauses in its agreements (Cass et al, 2003, 33-41). Judging by the two events in China’s history, the Tienaman Square massacre and China’s WTO entry, it can be observed that there is evidence of significant change. It is thought that a democratization change in process in China is one that is moving along slowly and steadily. Certainly, an overnight change is unlikely, and gradually more changes are expected to take place. External and Internal Pressure on China: In addition to realizing the democratic changes that are beginning to take place in China, it also must be asserted that there is significant pressure on China, as other democratic countries repeatedly urge China to move ahead with democratization processes. Most of these countries include the developed ones, particularly those that are members of the WTO (Cass et al, 2003, 33-41). With external pressure and pressure from the youth within China that want more liberty, it is most likely that China will eventually be democratized. It is thought that officially, China will be democratized by the year 2020. However, it must be remembered that there is a long way to go in this process, and institutions need to conform to being democratic. One important aspect of a democratic state is letting the people have their say. The people of China should have their right to determine their future and choose their leader, and this refers to having fair elections where candidates can be nominated through a system and then elected by the people (Peerenboom, 2002, 25-23). If China holds fair elections, it is believed that this would be the ultimate step in setting up a democratic country. China currently holds village elections, which is thought to be a positive step towards democracy. Significance of Village Elections in China: Since the 1980s, China has been conducting village elections. In 1998, these elections, under the 1998 Organic Law on Villager Committees, made sure that villager committees carried out democratic administration. This law also subjected the villager committees to fiscal accountability (Pastor & Tan, 2000, 490-512). At the grassroots village elections seem to be a good idea. This is because it infuses the idea of democracy among people that need it most. Perhaps this idea, if successful, could be conducted throughout the country in the form of pure democratic elections. However, in view of the problems that have emerged with these elections, it is questionable whether these elections should continue (Peerenboom, 2002, 25-23). The manner in which the villagers were handled when they protested, after they lodged a petition against an authority, is reminiscent of the massacre at Tienaman Square (Ding, 2002, 25-31). The whole nation is aware of the government’s handling of this affair, and now, there is even concern regarding how serious the government really is about democracy at the grassroots (Peerenboom, 2002, 25-23). Certainly, such an incident so many years after the Tienaman Square is surprising, considering that the government would have been doing its best to make sure there is no repeat of the massacre. The government of China would probably not want to stir those memories, but as it appears, the ultimate answer to civil protest in China is harsh treatment by the policing forces. Amid other efforts to democratize China, handling civilians in the manner that the villagers have been handled recently will not help to prove China’s sincerity to turn itself into a democratic country. Conclusion: In view of China being democratized, the government has to show more sincerity to making the country truly democratic. Harsh treatment as demonstrated in the recent villager protests cannot be carried out. The idea of having village elections though is a good idea, provided that the villagers’ views really count. This is why there should be more transparency in these dealings, and this would depend on the kind of setup for handling electoral affairs. In addition to village elections being observed as a good idea to introduce democracy at the grassroots, China has been making steady progress towards democratization on other fronts. One of the major steps that it had taken was signing the WTO agreement, which means that China has made an international statement. Certainly, trading with other member countries is a positive step for China’s democratization, and in view of the economic progress China has made, it is likely that the country could become a democracy by 2020. The reason why this time frame is suggested, in spite of the recent non-democratic act with China’s villagers, is because of the fact that China already has its direction set correctly towards becoming a democracy. This is to say that they have been making progress on other fronts. In order to speed up the process and put more pressure on institutions to democratize, China could officially announce itself as a democracy and denounce previous institutional practices. Though there would be a lot of work still pending in making China truly democratic at all levels, the official step could very easily be taken by 2020. References: Bhattasali, D., Li, S. & Martin, W. 2004. China and the WTO: Accession, Policy Reform, and Poverty Reduction Strategies, World Bank Publications. pp 22-30. Brook, T. (ed) & Frolic, B. M. (ed) 1997. Civil Society in China. M. E. Sharpe Inc. pp 25-28. Cass, D., Williams, B. & Barker, G. 2003. China and the World Trading System : Entering the New Millennium. Cambridge University Press, pp33-41. Ding, Y. 2002. Chinese Democracy after Tiananmen. UBC Press. pp 25-31. Pastor, R. A. & Tan, Q. 2000. The Meaning of Chinas Village Elections. China Quarterly, No. 162, Special Issue: Elections and Democracy in Greater China. pp. 490-512 Peerenboom, R. 2002. Chinas Long March Toward Rule of Law, Cambridge University Press. pp 25-23. Read More