Modernization of China

Modernization of the Chinese Government and Democracy In the past 35 years, China has experienced significant transformation and modernization of its democracy and governance. This modernization process was brought by the death of Mao Zedong, the founding father of the People's Republic of China and the Chairman of the country's Communist Party since 1943. Prior to his death, Chairman Mao had started a Cultural Revolution in 1966 in attempts to revive socialism in the country and eliminate capitalistic corruption and bureaucratic inflexibility.

The initiation of the Cultural Revolution was preceded by several political and social campaigns that urged Mao to propel the country towards the much anticipated socialism, which was regarded as a promised paradise. Following Mao's death, China has experienced considerable transformation due to socialism, which has in turn resulted in modernization of the Chinese government and democracy. The other changes brought by socialism include economic transformation to an extent that the country is a major economy in today's world.

The Chinese Dream The Chinese Dream is basically made of three major features i.e. national prosperity, people's welfare, and rejuvenation (Songhua, 2013). This dream has been the basis of every revolutionary, transformation, and modernization initiative adopted in the country and by successive governments. In essence, this dream has constantly acted as the solution of the long standing issue of transforming the nation.

Throughout the years, The Chinese Dream has continued to carry the historical greatness of the country and conformed to the times with regards to the country's present experiences and global changes. As The Chinese Dream has conformed to the times, modernization has been incorporated as part of it. The inclusion of modernization has become a definitive and uniting factor by which the Chinese people and society move from the past into the future. Modernization has been incorporated into The Chinese Dream because of the ancestors' dream of prosperity and egalitarianism.

According to the Chinese people, The Chinese Dream over the past century can be described as the dream mentioned by the funding father China to become an equal country on the global stage. This has contributed to the country's pursuit of rejuvenation and modernization as the country seeks to play a major role in the global economy. This dream has included every rich and poor Chinese and transcended the North and the South in the past and future.

The Chinese Dream has essentially become the greatest calling of the nation's citizens for more than 100 years. The dream has provided the impetus for the country to carry out political, social, and economic reforms that have been rooted in its rural and urban society and contributed to numerous changes in the country's fundamental social structure in an exceptional manner. China's Cultural Revolution During the past century, the Chinese people have constantly been concerned and raised questions regarding The Chinese Dream, which incorporates national prosperity, people's welfare, and rejuvenation (Songhua, 2013).

These questions and concerns are regarded as part of the solution to a century-old issue regarding transforming the country. The need for transformation of China during the past 100 years has been fueled by the fact that the country is relatively the only ancient civilization that has effectively maintained in continuity in today's world and society. The need for transformation of the Chinese society was driven by the fact that the country's society had been rotting since mid 19th Century because of the effect of external forces.

Moreover, calls for transformation were fueled by the tendency by the Chinese people to fight back when foreign powers tried to bully them. Generally, the Chinese society has been characterized by century-old history of national struggle and humiliation. Actually, the history of China shows that Chinese people fought against aggression by foreign powers and feudal lords between 1840 and 1949 in order to gain national independence.

As a result, the country embarked on a transformation mission and modernization path in order to rejuvenate the great Chinese nation but without necessarily going back to Han or Tang dynasties. The transformation and modernization path of China was largely a process of self-change that enabled the country to rejuvenate itself to its present economic position in the world. The transformation and modernization path of the Chinese society and nation started in 1966 when Mao Zedong, the country's founding father initiated a Cultural Revolution.

Mao initiated this transformation process a decade before his death in order to eliminate capitalist corruption and bureaucratic rigidity and rejuvenate socialism in the country (Coase & Wang, 2012, p.1). The Cultural Revolution was a by-product of political and social campaigns that persistently indicted Mao to propel the country towards the promised paradise of socialism. Mao launched this revolution based on the belief that the country could eliminate poverty and move towards socialism through unity of thought and action by all Chinese people.

The unity in thought and action would contribute to socialism and national prosperity through ensuring people use their energy and talents in a collective cause. In addition, the unselfish and property-less Chinese people would be rejuvenated by socialism. Mao initiated the Cultural Revolution at a time when the Chinese people and society had shed the burden of history and feudalism and were without distraction of material interests and western capitalism. Therefore, the Chinese people had relatively no option other than to respond and participate in socialism.

While The Cultural Revolution was initiated with good intentions, it did not generate desired results because of Mao's deeply flawed ideology and rushed revolutions. Actually, the Chinese people ended up experiencing the most devastating famine in the history of humanity after the commencement of the Cultural Revolution. This revolution also ended up detaching the Chinese people from their cultural roots and development of contemporary times. During this period, the enterprising Chinese people were soon reduced to lifeless cogs through socialism.

Modernization of China Despite the unsuccessful attempts by Chairman Mao to transform China through socialism and the Cultural Revolution, China has been on a modernization path that has not only transformed its fundamental social structure but also changed its government and democracy. This modernization has largely occurred in the past 35 years after the death of Mao Zedong, the nation's founding father. The modernization of the Chinese government and democracy was started during the post-Mao period and without a clear roadmap or destination in mind.

In essence, China's journey of modernization is the outcome of hardships, setbacks, and successes in the socialist road. The modernization path of China has involved mobilization of billions of peasants and workers who joined national rejuvenation initiatives after passively waiting for their fate during the political, social, and economic reforms initiated by Chairman Mao. These people joined the cause and became part of an active leading force towards the creation of an all-round industrial system and nationwide defense system (Songhua, 2013).

From a political perspective, the modernization of Chinese government and democracy was influenced by two major events in China's history i.e. The fall of the Qing Dynasty and the death of Chairman Mao. The fall of the Qing Dynasty contributed to modernization of governance in China by making it extremely difficult to reunify the country and its people. This fall was succeeded by weak governments that failed in addressing local problems and resisting the aggression by foreign powers.

These two major problems proved to be enormous challenges in the governance of a contemporary China. Consequently, reunification of China and the establishment of a strong government became a prerequisite for development and establishment of any plan towards modernization. This process focused on establishing a strong Chinese government with strong governance capabilities that would assume a key role in the nation's development process. The reunification and independence of China in the development process were realized during the New Democracy Revolution.

The death of Chairman Mao provided the necessary impetus that would significantly transform the country's history and position it in the international stage. The post-Mao Chinese government established socialist modernization and the nation's great economic transformation. The socialist modernization involved the shift from New Democracy Revolution based on evaluation of China's history and realities. The post-Mao Chinese government established socialist modernization based on the premise that China's modernization initiative could be accomplished through a socialist system.

This belief was based on lessons from the strengths and weaknesses of the Cultural Revolution initiated by Chairman Mao prior to his death. The modernization of Chinese government and democracy is also attributed to the development of the country to become a capitalist nation in the past 35 years. The start of post-Mao government was characterized by numerous reform initiatives that basically made China to become a market economy by the end of the 90s and its eventual incorporation into the World Trade Organization in 2001.

According to modernization theory, capitalism is the groundwork for democracy since it lessens state controls by highlighting the significance of the individual and the rule of law (Saayman, 2013). China became a capitalist, which resulted in modernization of its government and democracy, through the first two decades of reform after Chairman's Mao death.

These major reforms that redefined and shaped the nation's government and democracy include Revitalization of State Sector and Socialism As previously mentioned, Chairman Mao had commenced considerable transformation of China through the Cultural Revolution and socialism a decade before his death. During the post-Mao era, one of the major reforms that transformed China's government and democracy was an initiative designed by Beijing to revitalize the state sector and save socialism.

This government-led reform took place in two phases beginning with the one that started at the end of 1976 under the leadership of Hua Guofeng, Mao's designated successor. Hua combined his power base by arresting the Gang of Four and stopping the Cultural Revolution. Despite being loyal to Chairman Mao, Hua was widely recognized as an economic modernizer. Hua initiated his economic modernization program, which was primarily a state-led, investment-driven program that focused on heavy industrialization or big-push industrialization.

This program was launched with the full support of Deng Xiaoping and other leaders in the country (Coase & Wang, 2013). The economic modernization program only lasted for two years because of changes in leadership and its own defects that hindered success. The second phase of revitalization of state sector and saving socialism started at the end of 1978 when Hua's initiative was brought to an end and Deng Xiaoping and Chen Yun came back to power.

Chen designed an economic reform program that was based on the belief that Chinese economy had mainly suffered from long structural imbalance. The imbalance was brought by increased investment in heavy industry in comparison to light industry and agriculture. Hua's economic program was brought to an end amidst strong opposition from the State Council and Chen's economic policy was imposed resulting in the second major reform.

Imposing Chen's Economic Policy The second major reform that played a major role in China's development to become a capitalist and eventual modernization of its government and democracy was the enforcement of Chen's economic policy. This second-round of Beijing-led reform was based on a two-fold approach i.e. changes at the macro level and state-enterprise reform at the micro level. This process entailed imposing structural changes throughout the economy and allocating more funds to agriculture.

Moreover, the Chinese government increased the costs of agricultural products by more than 20% and considerably increased grain import. The enforcement of Chen's economic policy also entailed measures undertaken by Beijing to decentralize foreign trade and giving more financial independence to provincial governments. Economic foundation of socialism became the main focus at the micro-level or state-owned enterprises. This initiative involved devolving some rights to state enterprises and permitting them to obtain some profits.

Consequently, the Chinese government embarked on initiatives to incentivize state enterprises from 1979 and throughout the 1980s (Coase & Wang, 2013). Impact of Economic Reforms on Modernization of Chinese Government and Democracy The economic reforms launched by various Chinese leaders during the post-Mao era have contributed to the country's rise to become a capitalist. As previously mentioned, modernization theory suggests that capitalism provides the foundation for democracy by lessening state controls.

These states controls are lessened through an emphasis on the significance of the individual and the importance of the rule of law. Therefore, China rise to become a capitalist through these economic reforms during the post-Mao era played a vital role in the modernization of its government and democracy. One of these major reforms that had a significant impact on the country's governance and democracy was the state-led enforcement of Chen's economic policy.

During the implementation of this reform, Deng Xiaoping, Chinese leader, successfully generated an understanding that political power is no longer centralized and concentrated in the hands of one individual (Saayman, 2013). Regardless of the institutional environment in China, Xiaoping has successfully resolved the dilemma of democratization through establishing measures to ensure political power is no longer centralized in one leader. For instance, Xiaoping resolved this dilemma by establishing two-term presidencies, which renounces the four cardinal principles that have been traditionally upheld in Chinese governance system.

Xiaoping's efforts have significantly transformed and modernized China's government and democracy since a political ruler is prevented from wielding absolute power and encouraged to nurture a competent political successor to continue his/her reforms. During the tenure of Chairman Mao Zedong, political power was largely vested on a constituency of elites who governed the country and seemingly prevented China's democratization. As a result of China development to become capitalist and eventual reform initiatives by Deng Xiaoping, political power is more diffuse today that it was during Mao's leadership.

The increased diffusion of the political power of elites will continue to provide more support to democratic reforms, which will in turn continue to grow. However, China needs to continue reforming its governance and political sector to promote the growth of democracy throughout the country. This is primarily because the probability of democratization in the country is significantly affected by the fact that China is not a federalist state and the ability of the central government to determine its terms to lower levels of governance.

Therefore, the institutional environment in China needs to be addressed in order to promote increased modernization of the nation's government and democracy. China's Economic Boost The economic boost of China in the modern world is attributed to things that have happened in the country in the past, especially after the death of Chairman Mao Zedong. Generally, today's economic boost of China is largely attributed to the reform initiatives adopted in the post-Mao era.

After the death of Chairman Mao, China's premier, Deng Xiaoping announced market reforms and expansion 35 years ago (Johnson, 2013). The market reforms and expansion eventually transformed the Chinese economy and society since the country focused on creating a more equitable society. The market reforms and expansion initiatives entailed the enactment of several policy decisions that were geared towards promoting significant economic growth and development of China. Most of the 1978 economic policy decisions strengthened different sectors of the economy including state-owned enterprises, which became increasingly competitive.

Market reforms as initiated by Xiaoping also focused on fostering the links between geographical segments and several sectors by launching a new kind of relationship between agriculture and industry. In essence, economic reform has been the current plan for China's growth and development in the past three to four decades with a significant focus on the link between the government and the market. This link has enabled the market to play a decisive role in distribution of resources and shaping the government's regulatory role.

Since it China's transformation is based on socialist modernization, public and private sectors have acted as important components of its market economy as well as the basis of social and economic development and growth. Therefore, the market reforms and expansion efforts are one of the major incidents in the past that have contributed to today's economic boost of China.

In addition to the series of reforms pursued by post-Mao Chinese government, today's economic boost has been influenced by the first decade transformation of private farming, the Special Economic Zones, private business in towns and cities, and township and village enterprises. These transformations are considered as the major economic forces that were actually revolutionizing the Chinese economy though they were not initiated from Beijing.

Chinese government did not intervene or interfere with these seemingly marginal forces because they did not pose any threats to the Party's political power and the state sector. The lack of government intervention or interference helped in creating marginal revolutions that fostered market and entrepreneurship forces across the country (Coase & Wang, 2013). Even though it had existed for more than millennia, private farming was resorted to after the death of Chairman Mao though Beijing attempted to enhance the commune system.

The decision by Beijing to allow private farming in various areas in 1980 contributed to opening of floodgates of private farming that could not be controlled. This culminated in the decentralization of Chinese agriculture and freeing of Chinese peasants. In contrast, township and village enterprises were industrial operations that were situated in rural areas and were regarded as the most dynamic segment in the nation's economy. Similar to private farming, these enterprises were later excluded from state-led distribution system in order to sell their various agricultural products.

As these enterprises identified their own sales teams and functioned as real business firms, they out-performed state enterprises. Private businesses in Chinese cities were initiated by individuals who had no jobs in the state sector since the government did not create adequate jobs. Following Mao's death, the young, unemployed and restless youths came back to the city and found no jobs in the state sector, which made them to hold several protests across cities and block the railway.

The protests created mounting pressure on the government, which created opportunities for self-employment that resulted in the emergence of private shops and ended the monopoly of the urban economy by the state. The most controversial marginal revolutions were the Special Economic Zones, which were developed to co-opt capitalism and promote socialism. These economic zones were allowed to experiment with the market economy, create jobs and foster economic growth, import technology and managerial competence, and sell goods to foreign markets.

Nonetheless, the experiments were strictly controlled by the state to prevent them from undermining socialism in other economic sectors. The third factor that gave China today's economic boost is regional competition following the impact of marginal revolutions in bringing back market and entrepreneurship forces back to China. Actually, regional competition was the main revolutionary force and factor that transformed the country into a market economy by the end of the century.

Unlike before when regional competition generated trade barriers and fragmented China's economy, it became a major transformative force in the post-Mao era following the significant economic gains from reform measures and marginal revolutions. The impact of regional transformation on today's economic boost of the Chinese economy is that it translated China's competitive advantage as a continental nation to the high industrialization speed (Coase & Wang, 2013). Regional competition was accompanied by the growth of knowledge in post-Mao Chinese government, which also played a major role in China's economic change.

During Mao's tenure, education suffered significantly while knowledge was a political liability. This was mainly because the country distanced itself from the West and detached itself from its own traditions and customs. Apart from closing Chinese minds, Mao's radical ideology did not promote economic growth and development. After his death, the country adopted pragmatism that was characterized by pursuit for knowledge and information. This resulted in the growth of knowledge that contributed to numerous economic experiments and eventual growth of Chinese industrialization at rapid speeds.

President's Xi's Vision for the Future of China China's president, Xi Jinping, has expressed a simple but powerful vision for the country that is geared towards rejuvenation of China. The vision is based on the glories of the nation's imperial past and acts as a patriotic call to arms and a growing sense of urgency.

Since his election into office, President Xi has portrayed himself as a transformative leader through embracing an agenda that seeks to reform and revolutionize the country's political and economic relations with the rest of the world (Economy, 2014). The transformative nature of Xi's leadership is evident in his rejection of the communist tradition of collective leadership. President Xi has instead developed himself as the supreme leader in a highly centralized political system.

While Xi's proposed vision and hopes seek to foster the role of the market in the economy, it will permit the state to maintain considerable control. President Xi Jinping's vision for the future of China seeks to increasingly modernize.