Will China Ever Move Towards Democracy?

As we have read and learned, mainly from Seymour Martin Lipset, it is generally thought that economic growth directly correlates to a growth of democracy. As a nation’s economy grows, increases in communication, mobilization, and education all occur throughout society. All of these factors point toward an increase in democracy. So why is China, which has experienced some of the most staggering economic growth of the last century, still under the control of an authoritarian regime? Gallagher argues that it is the timing and sequencing of its reforms, combined with the prevalence of foreign direct investment, that have kept the communist party in control of China. By utilizing foreign direct investment as the catalyst and engine for economic growth, competition, and with it capitalism, increased dramatically in China. Competition for jobs decreased the power of the urban working class (often a strong supporter of democracy), gave the government political capital to enact reforms in the future, and also allowed the Communist Party to frame privatization and reform as vital for Chinese interests. All of these factors have stemmed the tide of political liberalization, and many now believe China may remain under authoritarian control for the foreseeable future. However, there are many problems that China’s rapid growth has created which may test the sturdiness of the Communist Party. The rewards of the booming economy have created an enormous gap between the rich and the poor and rural areas and cities. The increase in industries has forced China to rely on coal for much of its energy, making many Chinese cities some of the most polluted on the planet. Corruption is still widespread throughout China, and causes many ordinary workers to see smaller incomes. The Chinese banking system has taken on many bad loans at the orders of the government, and as we have seen this can lead to financial disaster. Lastly, what was once China’s great strength, its seemingly limitless potential work force and giant population, may soon become a problem. Will China be able to take care of its elderly, with the one-child policy limiting younger generations? All of these are serious problems China is faced with. While the Communist Party’s grip today seems as strong as ever, there are many roadblocks towards its continued dominance.