China’s Political Development in Gordon Chang’s Theory Essay

Exclusively available on Available only on IvyPanda® Made by Human No AI

Introduction

The political development of China has always been contested by historians and social scientists. This is the main topic that was discussed during lectures. I was able to learn about the complexities of democratic and totalitarian forces in China. The key issue is that political life in this country is largely unpredictable and one cannot determine what kind of regime will prevail in this society. This is the main thesis that I would like to advance and illustrate.

Gordon Chang’s theory

It is possible to mention the article by Gordon Chang who argues that the communist regime in China is very vulnerable to internal threats such as discontent with the authoritarianism of the state, the growing number of public protests, and corruption in public institutions (Chang 2006, p. 32). His theory of political development can be classified as a “single spark” approach. It means that political uprising can be caused by various events, actions, or decisions. There might be an event in the future that will unite Chinese people in their willingness to overthrow the communist party (Chang 2006, p. 36).

Gordon Chang’s views are different from the opinions of other scholars, for instance, James Mann. In his view, China will not democratize itself without any external assistance. I learned from lectures that the communist regime prevailed in China, because this country has long been isolated from the Western world and Chine people did not feel the support of democratic states, but the situation has dramatically changed in the age of globalization.

The evidence in support of this approach

Gordon Chang’s theory can appeal to many sectors of the business community in the United States. They may believe that a political uprising in China will adversely affect the functioning of the economy. Any instability in this country may deter American and European investors from bringing capital into China. Therefore, the Chinese economy may become less competitive. Nowadays, the market share of many American businesses has been reduced because they cannot compete with the prices that Chinese manufacturers set.

Secondly, many businesses that acted mostly as suppliers were also affected by the rapid economic growth of China. Many American companies decided to outsource some of their business processes to China. As a result, American suppliers lost their clients. So, the idea of political uprising in China suggests that the economic influence of this state may decline for a long time.

Evaluation of Gordon Chang’s ideas

Such a view has a right to exist, but one should remember that a political revolt in China may not necessarily hinder the economic development of this country. If this country democratizes itself from within, its economic system may not change significantly. Furthermore, many American businesses have partners in China, and any political or economic instability can harm them. Judging from the lectures and readings, I can tell that that the fall of the communist regime in China may have some adverse effects on the economy of China, but it may eventually recover. Certainly, it is just a hypothetical scenario, but it can be plausible.

Conclusion

In conclusion, I may argue that the political development of China is a very complex process. It may depend on a variety of factors such as the efficiency of the government, the attitudes of people, their beliefs about the future of the state, and the actions of Western countries. However, people should not assume that they can predict the eventual outcome.

Reference List

Chang, G. 2006. China in Revolt. Commentary 122 (5): 31-36.

More related papers Related Essay Examples
Cite This paper
You're welcome to use this sample in your assignment. Be sure to cite it correctly

Reference

IvyPanda. (2021, January 20). China's Political Development in Gordon Chang’s Theory. https://ivypanda.com/essays/chinas-political-development-in-gordon-changs-theory/

Work Cited

"China's Political Development in Gordon Chang’s Theory." IvyPanda, 20 Jan. 2021, ivypanda.com/essays/chinas-political-development-in-gordon-changs-theory/.

References

IvyPanda. (2021) 'China's Political Development in Gordon Chang’s Theory'. 20 January.

References

IvyPanda. 2021. "China's Political Development in Gordon Chang’s Theory." January 20, 2021. https://ivypanda.com/essays/chinas-political-development-in-gordon-changs-theory/.

1. IvyPanda. "China's Political Development in Gordon Chang’s Theory." January 20, 2021. https://ivypanda.com/essays/chinas-political-development-in-gordon-changs-theory/.


Bibliography


IvyPanda. "China's Political Development in Gordon Chang’s Theory." January 20, 2021. https://ivypanda.com/essays/chinas-political-development-in-gordon-changs-theory/.

If, for any reason, you believe that this content should not be published on our website, please request its removal.
Updated:
This academic paper example has been carefully picked, checked and refined by our editorial team.
No AI was involved: only quilified experts contributed.
You are free to use it for the following purposes:
  • To find inspiration for your paper and overcome writer’s block
  • As a source of information (ensure proper referencing)
  • As a template for you assignment
Privacy Settings

IvyPanda uses cookies and similar technologies to enhance your experience, enabling functionalities such as:

  • Basic site functions
  • Ensuring secure, safe transactions
  • Secure account login
  • Remembering account, browser, and regional preferences
  • Remembering privacy and security settings
  • Analyzing site traffic and usage
  • Personalized search, content, and recommendations
  • Displaying relevant, targeted ads on and off IvyPanda

Please refer to IvyPanda's Cookies Policy and Privacy Policy for detailed information.

Required Cookies & Technologies
Always active

Certain technologies we use are essential for critical functions such as security and site integrity, account authentication, security and privacy preferences, internal site usage and maintenance data, and ensuring the site operates correctly for browsing and transactions.

Site Customization

Cookies and similar technologies are used to enhance your experience by:

  • Remembering general and regional preferences
  • Personalizing content, search, recommendations, and offers

Some functions, such as personalized recommendations, account preferences, or localization, may not work correctly without these technologies. For more details, please refer to IvyPanda's Cookies Policy.

Personalized Advertising

To enable personalized advertising (such as interest-based ads), we may share your data with our marketing and advertising partners using cookies and other technologies. These partners may have their own information collected about you. Turning off the personalized advertising setting won't stop you from seeing IvyPanda ads, but it may make the ads you see less relevant or more repetitive.

Personalized advertising may be considered a "sale" or "sharing" of the information under California and other state privacy laws, and you may have the right to opt out. Turning off personalized advertising allows you to exercise your right to opt out. Learn more in IvyPanda's Cookies Policy and Privacy Policy.

1 / 1