Economic reform and democratization in communist systems: The case of China

Abstract

Major reform movements in communist countries typically produce both economic and political change, raising important questions about the precise linkage between the two.’ In particular, scholars-focusing mostly upon reforms in the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe-have long debated whether economic reform will render these systems more politically pluralistic or even democratic. To some, it seems obvious that economic reform cannot occur without giving rise to political pluralism and pressures for democratization.2 Others argue that the two processes are quite distinct and that economic reform is possible without any significant change in the political system.3 The dramatic reforms in post-Mao China provide an excellent opportunity to re-examine the merits of these competing arguments. This article suggests that neither line of argument is wholly adequate: the relationship between economic reform and democratization in communist countries is not a constant, but a variable. Although economic reform in communist systems is often followed by significant pluralization, the timing of such pluralization relative to economic reform, its extent, and its nature vary significantly across nations. Analysts who argue that economic reform promotes democratization generally focus on the ways in which economic reform alters the costs and benefits of political action, encouraging individuals to act politically in support of their interests. The thrust of this article is that theories of economic reform and democratization resting upon rational premises are not so much wrong as incomplete. Because economic reform produces new demands and increases (both directly and indirectly) the perceived net benefits of political action, it is likely to be followed by increased mass political action. But the response of different groups within the population to economic reform depends upon a number of factors, including pre-existing attitudes about the legitimacy and efficacy of political participation that may vary across nations and groups. This article will elucidate these points through an analysis of political change in post