Deng’s Hidden Political Revolution | The Economics of China Episode 2

What is the real political foundation for Chinese growth?

In Episode 2, Professor Ang rejects the popular impression that China undertook economic reforms without political reforms. In reality, she reveals, Deng launched a hidden political revolution in the manner of bureaucratic reforms rather than Western-style democracy.

How can we understand the bright and dark sides of China’s gilded rise? Through the lens of American history.

In this seven-episode series, Yuen Yuen Ang explains how China escaped poverty and became the second largest economy in the world. Rejecting popular assumptions of Chinese exceptionalism, she shows that China’s path to a mixture of wealth and capitalist excesses is more like the American experience than most people think.

Produced by Matthew Kulvicki, Nick Alpha & Kurt Semm

[momo_san]

I've been in China for 18 years. I must say that the air quality, water cleanliness at the river near by my home, public safety, and public good have all been greatly improved.
There used be polluted days covered with smog, the river stank, parents afraid of kidnappers, etc...
It takes a strong leader to clean these things up.

[rtan]

Deng policy works during his time when US and global environment was conducive to China growth but no more when CN has reach a certain development stage where the west starts to feels the threat and try to checkmate CN growth… Thus Xi policy suit his time and global political. environment.

[horridohobbies]

China is democratic but not in the Western liberal fashion. Why should democracy only be defined in terms of multiple political parties vying for power at the ballot box?

China's democracy is consultative in nature rather than switching out political parties that fail to perform. The government solicits feedback and input from the people.

China's democracy is meritocratic rather than based on popularity contests known as elections. These popularity contests rarely produce good leaders.

China's democracy has proven to be very effective and well-supported. According to *Latana's Democracy Perception Index 2024, * 79% of Chinese regard their country as democratic while only 57% of Americans and 55% of British do.

According to the *Edelman Trust Barometer 2024, * 85% of Chinese trust their government while only 40% of Americans and 30% of British do.

According to the *Open Society Barometer 2023, * 76% of Chinese trust their politicians while only 29% of Americans and 20% of British do.

According to *a study from Harvard Kennedy School in 2020, * 95.5% of Chinese are satisfied with their government.

We cannot call China's government "autocratic." This is manifestly incorrect.

[jaytso]

It's not Autocracy vs Democracy, but rather Meritocracy vs Plutocracy

[horridohobbies]

All political systems evolve. The US political system evolved. China's political system evolved.

Today, China's model of governance is much improved. Thanks to China's capable and intelligent leadership (based on meritocracy rather than popularity contests), China's spectacular growth was based on decades of good policies executed with great efficiency without hindrance.

The Western model of governance has resulted in economic and political turmoil which we've all witnessed these past several decades.

Ergo, China's model of governance is superior to the West's.

[robertseaborne]

The original intention of economic thinking was about the wellbeing of the people, nowadays (especially within Liberal democracies) it is more about the well being of corporations. At least socialism with Chinese characteristics is retaining some of the original intention of economics.

[carrier_pigeon]

I'm hardly anything even remotely close to a China expert but it does seem that your argument over the course of this video series is aimed at discrediting Xi. I'm not saying that's wrong (because honestly, I'm not educated enough on the topic to know) but it does stand out to me.

[ozychk]

Thanks for putting these excellent videos online 🙏🏽

[parhhesia]

Fair analysis, but it doesn’t incorporate the changing geopolitical context from Deng to Xi. Western leaders liked Deng; on the cusp of Xi's ascension, China had grown so much that the USA decided to contain it (ie, the 'pivot to Asia'). It follows that a more defensive, unified Chinese political leadership was necessary to meet this threat. No matter how China is governed, the USA will be hostile unless it has a puppet in charge.

[cslim]

thank you Professor ANg and iNet for the insightful presentation which provides a provocative view on the subject matter.

[laconich]

Francis Fukujama quoted in a vieo produced by INET? Odd

[sinsinchandra]

You need political stability at top level and social cohesiveness at the other end for a big country and large population like China. Without the above 2, they won't success in revitalising the country and they know it very well. Authoritarian or capitalism are not that relevant. To paint them with authoritarian or capitalism or which one is better is just missing the point or even misleading.

[waywalker]

I wonder what you're omitting Doctor Ang

[ale.channel]

Democracy does not make a country advanced, instead it causes division, because each group has different goals. We can see our country, Indonesia. The capitalist country helped Soeharto become president. Establishing power for 30 years. For 30 years our country achieved good economic growth, although it was not evenly distributed. After 30 years, according to their policy, we had to become a democracy through the 2002 law. But after almost 25 years there were no clear results.

[skkhoo]

Ok, episode 1, I finished watching because I wanted to learn about this aunty but I can just barely finish watching episode 2. I don't think I'll be watching further episodes.

[GlobeHackers]

Excellent lecture; it's informative and easy to comprehend. I don't think many people in the world wrestle with the definition of democracy. If we think democracy is voting, we have abdicated our responsibility as citizens. Leaders must be responsible for the significant investment made in affecting the narrative.

[pranavmanie]

Ang is always excellent. I don't agree completely with her on China's democratic characteristics under Deng, but this is great myth breaking. I have a feeling China will also likely lead the solar industrial revolution - which we desperately need to combat climate change.

[Aramsa-Khan]

China is facing the US aggressive move. China must remain strong

[simplycf]

You people are just unwilling to admit that so called authoritarianism is not as bad as you believe. Like seriously, the most prosperous civilizations in ancient times were all authoritarian. Even if the times are different why do you think humanity should completely dismiss this model?

[anti-genocide]

The soviet union wasn't a dictatorship as you can easily figure it out from the word "union" . it's a popular democracy or an illiberal popular democracy !