Human Rights Protection and Economic Development in China: Right to Subsistence-based Development and its Future

Abstract

Historically, economic development and human rights go hand in hand. On the one hand, the protection of human rights is the purpose of economic development, i.e., promoting economic and social rights through economic development, and then creating conditions for the realization of civil and political rights. On the other hand, the protection of human rights is a means to economic development, and only through the protection of human rights, can sustained and healthy economic development be realized. The economic development model of China since 1978, for quite a long period of time, is suitable for subsistence-based development. However, it also has created risks of economic failure and political legitimacy crises. So it is necessary to adopt a scientific development model which values human rights.