China's long quest for democracy : a historical institutional perspective / Lin Gang.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Lin, Gang, 1953- author.

Series:

New perspectives on Chinese politics and society

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Democracy--China.

Democracy.

Social change--Political aspects.

Social change.

Elite (Social sciences)--Political activity.

Elite (Social sciences).

China.

Elite (Social sciences)--Political activity--China.

Social change--Political aspects--China.

China--Politics and government--1949-.

Politics and government.

Physical Description:

239 pages : illustrations ; 23 cm.

Place of Publication:

New York, NY : Palgrave Macmillan, 2016.

Summary:

"Conceptualizing China as a country with rapid economic transformation and little political progress has led to a normative misjudgment that economic reform should occur before significant democratization. This book compares several historical junctures during China's long journey towards democracy to observe the constraints of pre-chosen ideological and institutional patterns on political elites in advancing legal and electoral reforms. Confucian legacies of moralism, elitism, and state centralism, in addition to revolutionary guardianship and populism remain embedded in Chinese practice in rule by law, grassroots autonomy, and intra-party democracy. However, China's hope for democratic development is encouraged by urban and educational development, generational change and growing individualism. This book explores the feasible paths toward democracy in China, challenging methodological wisdom in employing quantitative changes in socioeconomic structure to predict change in the political system"-- Provided by publisher.

"China's quest for democracy is constrained by Confucian legacies and the pre-existing norm of the one-party system. Despite socioeconomic transformation, the ruling elites have not completely shifted the base of legitimacy from government performance to constitutionalism and majority rule, failing to shed off elitism, populism and the rule of virtue in ideological and institutional innovations"-- Provided by publisher.

Contents:

1. Introduction

2. Liberal Democratic Principles and China's Authoritarian Tradition

3. Ideological Transformation in Prereform China

4. Evolution of Democratic Ideas in Post-Mao China

5. From a 'Party State' toward the a 'State-Party'

6. Institutional Innovation toward Democracy

7. Conclusion.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages 207-227) and index.

ISBN:

9781137592767

1137592761

OCLC:

930067931