Question

Making Inferences and Drawing Conclusions While China has welcomed western economic principles, it has continued to come down hard on political freedoms. For example, Deng crushed protesters in Tiananmen Square in $1989.$ Why do you think capitalism can grow in China under a restrictive government when in the former Soviet bloc it went hand in hand with political freedom?

Short answer

China's economic growth succeeded due to controlled reforms without political change, unlike the Soviet Union's simultaneous political-economic shifts.

Step-by-step solution

Understand the Question Context

The question asks us to analyze why economic capitalism has been successful in China despite a restrictive government while in the former Soviet Union, capitalism was accompanied by political freedom.

Recall Historical Background

Historically, Deng Xiaoping led economic reforms in China in the late 1970s, introducing market principles while maintaining a single-party state, resulting in economic growth. In contrast, the Soviet Union's shift towards capitalism in the 1980s was linked to political liberalization.

Analyze China's Economic Strategy

China carefully introduced economic reforms, allowing privatization and global trade without changing its political structure. The Chinese government retained control over political dissent, which is exemplified by the Tiananmen Square incident.

Observe the Soviet Bloc Transition

The Soviet bloc's transition involved political and economic changes. The leadership under Gorbachev pursued glasnost (openness) and perestroika (restructuring), which led to both political freedom and the adoption of capitalist practices.

Explore Economic Vs. Political Freedom

In China, the government separated economic reform from political reform, ensuring economic growth could occur without losing political control. The Soviet bloc tried to implement both types of changes simultaneously, which led to instability.

Draw Conclusions

Capitalism grew in China because the government kept political control while gradually integrating economic freedoms, contrary to the Soviet bloc, which attempted simultaneous transformations that destabilized the system.

Key concepts

Political Freedom in China

In China, political freedom has been tightly controlled by the ruling Communist Party. This approach has created a unique environment where economic growth and political stability are maintained separately. The Chinese government believes that maintaining strict political control is essential to ensure national unity and prevent social disorder.

Unlike many Western democracies, China operates under a one-party system. This means:

• Limited freedom of speech and press.
• Restricted political opposition.
• Controlled public dissent.

Such restrictions are often justified by the government as necessary for harmony and economic progress. Despite economic liberalization, the overarching political freedom remains restrictive, emphasizing state authority over individual political rights.

This model has allowed China to pursue aggressive economic goals without facing significant public resistance. While this approach has its critics globally, the Chinese government argues that it suits their society's specific needs and goals.

Economic Reforms

China's economic reforms began in the late 1970s under the leadership of Deng Xiaoping. These reforms focused on transitioning from a command economy to a more market-oriented one, which allowed for tremendous economic growth.

Key aspects of these reforms include:

• Opening up to foreign trade and investment.
• Modernizing agriculture, industry, and technology.
• Allowing private businesses and entrepreneurship.

These changes were carefully implemented to not alter the fundamental political governance, ensuring the Communist Party maintained control over the state.

The success of these reforms can be attributed to China's focus on economic objectives without loosening political constraints. The government's tight control and gradual implementation provided a stable environment for economic activities, attracting foreign investments and boosting domestic productivity.

Tiananmen Square Incident

The Tiananmen Square Incident of 1989 is one of the most significant demonstrations of how political freedom is restricted in China. Thousands of people gathered in Beijing to demand political reforms and greater freedoms. However, the government's response was swift and severe.

Key points about the incident include:

• The protest was led mainly by students advocating for democracy.
• The Chinese government declared martial law and sent in troops.
• The crackdown resulted in numerous deaths and international condemnation.

This incident highlighted the uncompromising stance of the Chinese government against political dissent. The leadership's priority was to maintain political control at all costs, signaling to both citizens and the international community that political freedom would not accompany economic growth.

The Tiananmen Square Incident serves as a stark reminder of the limitations on political freedom in China despite the country's economic advancements.

Soviet Bloc Transition

The transition of the Soviet bloc in the late 1980s and early 1990s presents a contrast to China's approach. Under the leadership of Mikhail Gorbachev, the Soviet Union embarked on political and economic reforms known as glasnost (openness) and perestroika (restructuring).

These reforms aimed to introduce:

• Greater political transparency and freedom of expression.
• Democratization of the political system.
• Economic restructuring to encourage efficiency and innovation.

The simultaneous pursuit of political and economic changes created instability, leading to the collapse of the Soviet Union and its satellite states.

Unlike China, where the government maintained strict control, the Soviet bloc witnessed a surge in political freedom, which many argue led to uncontrollable public demands and systemic collapse. This dual transition is considered by many experts as one of the contributing factors to the rapid dismantling of the Soviet system, proving that managing both spheres simultaneously poses significant challenges.