Civic Culture In China

Throughout history there have been three known regime wave changes. These changes occurred from around 1825 until 1995. Throughout this time there were “‘waves’ of ..[of both]…democratization…and ‘reverse waves’ of democratization’”(Samuels 2013a pp.121). As time has progressed more countries have turned towards a democratic government; however, certain factors have to be apparent in order for a country to successfully transform it’s governmental system. Even though “democracy reigns in almost half the world’s states” (Samuels 2013a pp. 93), there are still instances where a country is unlikely to change it’s regime. While some countries appear to be continuously involved in regime changes, China is not one of them. In this paper I will argue …show more content…
Civic culture has “threes specific elements: high civic engagement, political equality, and solidarity. If citizens participate in organizations, engage with each other and respect each other then they have a higher civic culture”(Samuels 2013a pp. 123). However, a country that acquires civic culture must acquire these three elements, including political equality. The idea of political equality is that all individuals obtain equal rights (Samuels 2013a pp.123). The more a country upholds these beliefs the more predisposed and susceptible it is to democracy. Although, China may advocate participation in societal groups, they do not promote political equality. Rather China consists of a single- party regime where “the selectorate chooses their leader and the leader owes his or her job to the selectorate”(Samuels 2013a pp.106); therefore, these top individuals, chosen through several different criteria, fabricate the decisions regarding the government and major institutions and political decisions. Therefore China does not appear to be susceptible to regime change through a civic cultural …show more content…
abandoned communist economic principles..[and instead] the Chinese Communist Party has gone so far as to wholeheartedly embrace capitalism,” (Samuels 2013a pp. 101) it has not changed the dispersion of wealth and status among all individuals. Rather due to China’s economic growth, inequality and poverty among the lower class has expanded. China’s vast manufacturing industry controls the production of several different types of goods and only brings wealth to certain elite individuals in the economy. Therefore, China is not susceptible to this economic cause for regime change. Although China has experienced “rapid economic growth…[through]…exports and imports of food and raw material”(Samuels 2013a pp.142), it has not completely changed the class status’ and due to it’s production of several goods it is not considered a resource curse. For instance, in order for the economic change to effect the regime, the rise of a social class through obtaining wealth must take place. While this may have happened to some extent, such as the formation of non-governmental organizations and professional groups, it also is necessary that the “economic development reduces the influence of elite classes” (Samuels 2013a pp.142), and that did not occur. Overall, the economic status and growth of China has not affected it’s regime because while Chinese citizens are “more likely to pursue interests in the political process” (Samuels 2013a pp. 399) the middle class has not