The China Model: Not One to Emulate
Published May 11, 2021
The Chinese model of economic freedom and political repression in the name of control isn’t as successful as many believe. The Chinese Communist Party has embraced markets enough to provide some economic opportunities, but it uses its influence to suppress the political freedoms of its people. The absence of democratic norms and institutions encourages corruption and constrains healthy economic growth.
Discussion Questions:
- How does China try to convince the world that its model of governance is superior to democracy?
- Why are political freedoms important to economic growth?
Additional Resources:
- To learn more, read “The China Model: Unexceptional Exceptionalism,” by Elizabeth Economy. Available here.
- Listen to “Democracy and Authoritarianism,” with Elizabeth Economy and Larry Diamond. Available here.
- Read “An Order Aligned with Chinese Values,” by Elizabeth Economy. Available here.
The benefits of market economies are obvious to even the most authoritarian rulers. But they resist any liberalization of civil or political liberties, since that would threaten their ability to hold onto power.
For that reason, authoritarian rulers often look to China as a model for “growth with stability’ – in this case, stability of political leadership.
The China model is often described as a combination of economic freedom and political repression.
The Chinese Communist Party has maintained its political control in part because it has embraced markets enough to provide economic opportunities for many of its people. But the Chinese Communist Party also uses its influence to control the media, censor internet content, and suppress its competition, preventing its citizens from being able to openly criticize the government and mobilize politically.
Ultimately however, the Chinese economic model isn’t as successful as many believe.
Measured against other countries that have transitioned from authoritarian to democratic forms of government and whose citizens are just as rich, China does not stand out as providing better social welfare, such as healthcare and education, for its people.
And since the political system is closed, democratic norms and institutions like transparency, independent courts, and enforceable property rights are not assured. That encourages corruption and constrains healthy economic growth.
China’s leadership appears to be committed to its model of authoritarianism mixed with capitalism. But its people deserve both economic and political freedom.