Really, what business is this of yours? I feel like Westerners are always looking down their noses at the Chinese political situation but people don't seem to take into account China's historical context. China IS getting better (and rather rapidly). Less than 100 years ago, China still had an Emperor. With that in mind, how many centuries has Western democracy had to mature?
My personal belief is that democracy develops very gradually, sometimes punctuated by sharp periods of rapid change (e.g., revolutions, foreign colonization).
Every human being deserves better, Chinese or not. We are all on the same boat after all.
And yes. China is making some progress, but, still, it has a long way to go. Switching from an imperial totalitarian state to a communist one (also an unavoidable consequence of the past couple thousand years of Chinese history) makes for not that much of a change after all. At least not much when you consider the human condition.
And it is my business as it shifts the "Overton window" towards a position more on the totalitarian end of the spectrum. While recognizing China made a lot of progress in the past century (making up for the couple thousand years before) it is still unacceptable. Mind you my children will have to live in a world where a totalitarian state ruled with iron fist by a political aristocracy is a major commercial partner of just about every other country. And this arrangement may start putting ideas into some minds that would be better if left empty.
Karma for introducing me to the term Overton window. And I do agree with you that we should encourage China to continue to liberalize. I just wanted to try to offset what I feel is a somewhat one-sided view of the Chinese situation.
I'd also like to point out that, despite how the Western media often presents it, the CCP isn't monolithic. Power swings between two poles: Beijing and Shanghai (Beijing being the political and military hub, Shanghai being the economic hub). For example, Jiang Zemin represented the South and was what we would consider more economically liberal and now Hu is more friendly toward the military, more focused on 'political stability', and more representative of the North. I highly suspect the next president will be a conscious swing back to the 'liberal' side of the spectrum.
And the power hubs tend to alternate every decade or so. I suspect when democracy does start to trickle down to the Chinese population, the party will split somewhere along this line. We just need to give it a few more decades.
Here's hoping that world events allow them time to do so.
What is required is a way for one bunch of people to say "hell, the people running the government right now are idiots. Idiots I say! Let's completely do things differently!" and be able to assume power and change things without force of arms or violence.
And do this on a regular basis.
I know I'll feel better when that day comes. Because well, sometimes the folks running things are idiots. And they have all the guns.
While the fight for human rights and equality is certainly commendable, we must not fall into that pit that westerners always do and risk doing more harm than good. Not all societies are built to accept democracies, and not all cultural mindsets are ready for it. Taking China into perspective, if you are not Chinese and haven't lived in China in the past 50+ years, there is no way you can say or claim that you know what is needed there. I'm not making any assertions that their govt is something praise worthy, but who are we to say that a western style democracy will work best for their society? It's the same thing in Iraq and Afghanistan: We are trying to apply OUR ideals to a culture that doesn't have a clue what to do with it. Just because it works for us doesn't mean it'll work for them. Just look at the African states, and well, closer home, the Philippines. The Philippine constitution was modeled after the US's, and so far, all they've had were a succession of presidents that have made a mockery of the system. Why? Because western govt ideals don't allow for unique Philippine cultural attitudes.
So,
I know the chinese govt is oppressive and has yet to embrace the concept of human rights. I do believe the ruling regime and its system of govt should be abolished and wiped off the face of this modern world.
I know that working conditions in China will make the average McDonald's burger flipper in middle america thank his lucky stars he was born on american soil.
But, without knowing the nuances of its culture, what it considers 'tolerable' and what makes it 'tick', all you are doing is applying western ideals AS YOU SEE IT, to a culture that isn't nec. asking for it.
The best analogy I can give is it is like forcing a 6 month old baby to walk. You can't without damaging the hell out of the kid's psyche. It will walk when it is damn well ready.
China worries a lot of people because of the force they are becoming, culturally, militarily politically. I think people associate 'democracy' with all sorts of things that are not directly derivative, but the general idea is reasonable.
China does not have even the pretence of many institutions that are considered essential by many westerners. Democracy is one. Rule of law is another one that is usually lumped together (incorrectly, in my opinion) with democracy. A certain form of system neutrality is an important new world institution.
Another institution or value doesn't seem to have the right word. Libertarianism would be close but it carries far to much excess baggage, mostly US-specific. Basically, the idea that states should limit their involvement in certain areas.
People are worried that China's ascent means that 'rule of law' (or at least, a certain interpretation of this) is optional in the 21st century.
Really, what business is this of yours? I feel like Westerners are always looking down their noses at the Chinese political situation but people don't seem to take into account China's historical context. China IS getting better (and rather rapidly). Less than 100 years ago, China still had an Emperor. With that in mind, how many centuries has Western democracy had to mature?
My personal belief is that democracy develops very gradually, sometimes punctuated by sharp periods of rapid change (e.g., revolutions, foreign colonization).