Economic Reform and Political Repression in Modern China

From Maoism to Market Capitalism

Communist China has undergone a profound transformation over the past fifty years regarding its economy: from a primarily controlled and planned state, it has shifted to what is, in effect, capitalism in everything but name. This marks a major departure from the ideological purity demanded during the Maoist era. During the Cultural Revolution, the entire nation was subjected to an ideological cleansing. Intellectuals and people deemed "counterrevolutionary" in their ideology were sent to work in the countryside to be reeducated. This seems a far cry from the modern Chinese landscape, which is largely dominated by signs of capitalism — from name-brand clothing to fast food establishments.

However, although China has undergone a great deal of economic progress, it remains politically repressive toward those who would defy the dictates of the state. Dissidents such as the artist Ai Weiwei are repressed and stifled just as they were during the pre-reform era. Thus, while much has changed in China, much has also stayed the same. There are young entrepreneurs, but there are also individuals such as Ai who have not seen an appreciable improvement in their lives. Young, modern Chinese citizens must decide whether it is an acceptable compromise to achieve economic fulfillment and progress at the expense of political freedom.

Ben Wu: The Entrepreneurial Spirit of New China

One of the most striking individuals from the documentary Young and Restless in China is Ben Wu. Ben seems to embody the new China in his persona and attitude, and he immediately strikes the viewer as being extremely westernized in his demeanor. Despite being born in what is still technically a communist country, Ben seems to have the mentality of an "ultra-capitalist." All his life, Ben has tried to capitalize on opportunities, most notably by studying in the United States. Despite initially struggling as a college student in the U.S. because of the cultural and language divide, he quickly adapted. The freedom and possibilities within the U.S. suited his personality: he liked being able to grab a hamburger and a beer without any social pressure to conform. He is extroverted and highly social by nature — traits that are highly esteemed in the United States. Ben is above all an individualist who prefers to stand out from the crowd rather than blend in. This type of individualism was precisely the sort of attitude that was anathema to Maoism, even though most would say it is necessary in any capitalist country to generate wealth.

Ben remained close to his parents, and in keeping with his capitalist mindset, he was constantly in search of new opportunities. What could be better than China, with its rapidly expanding middle class — full of people just like Ben, eager for new ideas? So Ben returned to work at the emerging technology company Lenovo. However, he felt frustrated: despite, or perhaps because of, the many changes in China, corruption and nepotism were rife. The nation was a free-for-all in terms of official bribery, as many sought to capitalize on the desire of others to do business as a means of personal enrichment. And although Lenovo was considered something of an upstart firm relative to Microsoft and Apple, Ben still felt constrained within that particular corporate environment.

Corruption and the Limits of Capitalist Reform

Eventually, Ben decided to open his own solar panel business with his father, hoping to remain on the cutting edge of green technology in China and to stay innovative and relevant in the new economy. However, Ben's frustrations illustrate a common problem in developing-world economies. Although Ben seems to embody the new China in his entrepreneurial spirit, he also illustrates how the rapid shift to capitalism has not eradicated problems that have existed within China for decades. The corrupt and biased communist system of official bribery underwent a seamless transition into capitalism, and many of the aspects of life that made things so frustrating under communism made it equally difficult to establish capitalist enterprises. Corruption may have evolved as a survival mechanism during communist scarcity, but the culture of objective business dealings and ethical commerce that characterizes Western markets has yet to fully develop. China remains a nation governed by custom and hierarchy in many ways, even under capitalism.