Chinese model
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The Chinese model, (also called the "Chinese economic model" and "China Model"), refers to the political and especially economic policies of the People's Republic of China[1] that began after the death of Mao Zedong and the rehabilitation of Deng Xiaoping (1976) and are thought to have contributed to China's eightfold growth in gross national product over two decades.[2] The model has been called "a vaguely defined combination of authoritarian politics and state-guided capitalism."[3]
Despite various academic debates, there is actually no official recognition of the existence of such a “Chinese Model". Some Chinese officials/scholars even find this branding repulsive.
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Characteristics [edit]
Among the characteristics attributed to it by Western commentators include:
- replacing trust in the free market for economic growth with "a more muscular state hand on the levers of capitalism";[4]
- an absence of political liberalization;[2]
- strong leading role of ruling political party;[2]
- population control;[5]
According to academic and former Chinese official Zhang Weiwei, the "key features" of the model are:
- down-to-earth pragmatic concern with serving the people;[1]
- constant trial and error experimentation;[1]
- gradual reform rather than neo-liberal economic shock therapy;[1]
- a strong and pro-development state;[1]
- "selective cultural borrowing" of foreign ideas;[1]
- a pattern of implementing easy reforms first, difficult ones later.[1]
The model received considerable attention following the 2008-9 severe economic downturn in the Western world as an alternative to the "Washington Consensus" liberal-market approach.[4]
Other countries [edit]
Some officials in the Islamic Republic of Iran have been said to favor the Chinese Model, i.e. a focus on economic growth and jobs without political reform.[6][7]
Criticism [edit]
Critics at The Economist magazine have called the model "unclear" and an invention of "American think-tank eggheads" and "plumage-puffed Chinese academics".[4] Instead of strong government the critics have blamed China's success on its "vast, cheap labor supply", an "attractive internal market for foreign investment", and its access to the American market which provides a perfect spendthrift counterpart for China's exports and a high savings rate.[4]
In May 2012, the New York Times stated that China released data that "showed its economy was continuing to weaken," and quoted a political scientist at Renmin University of China in Beijing (Zhang Ming) as saying:
“Many economic problems that we face are actually political problems in disguise, such as the nature of the economy, the nature of the ownership system in the country and groups of vested interests. ... The problems are so serious that they have to be solved now and can no longer be put off.”[3]
See also [edit]
- Chinese economic reform
- Deng Xiaoping#Economic reforms
- Developmental state
- Socialist market economy
- State capitalism
References [edit]
- ^ a b c d e f g The allure of the Chinese model ZHANG Weiwei / International Herald Tribune, 2 November 2006
- ^ a b c "Commentator doubts efficacy of "Chinese model" for Iran" BBC Monitoring Middle East - Political [London] 04 May 2002: 1.
- ^ a b Doubts cast over China model as growth falters New York Times| 12 May 2012
- ^ a b c d "Beware the Beijing model Business." view Anonymous. Economist.com / News Analysis (May 26, 2009):
- ^ 'India should adopt Chinese model' The Statesman [New Delhi] 14 Nov 1999: 1.
- ^ Iran and the Rise of its Neoconservatives by Anoushiravan Ehteshami and Mahjoob Zweiri, IB Tauris , 2007, p.xv, 47-8, 88, 187-8n45
- ^ Iran's conservatives mull "Chinese model"| Dawn Group, February 17, 2004
