Abstract
Through a detailed analysis of 3 key topics from the democratic assessment framework in application to China, this paper attempts to understand how China is today a country still far removed from the promise of democracy. The paper looks at how important the issues of collective identity/citizenship, the rule of law, and economic rights are to the future of China and recognizes that it is difficult to come to a conclusion since China is still fundamentally an authoritarian state in which power is monopolized by the political-economic elite.

Outline:
Introduction
Nationhood and Citizenship
The Rule of Law and Access to Justice
Economic and Social Rights
Conclusion

From the Paper
"It must be acknowledged that this development of an authoritarian economic state was essential to the survival of China's ruling elite in the wake of the global collapse of communism in the early 1990s (Huang 54). In this analysis, it is was primarily through the ruling political elite's reaching out to the emerging business classes and co-opting them that allowed the Chinese system to survive the collapse of communism as an ideological system. However, it must be acknowledged that this has occurred at a great cost as one of the consequences of the development of this new elite has been a marked increase in corruption that parallels economic dislocation for much of the population (Fuller 152)."

Tags:Nationhood, Citizenship, social, justice

Abstract
This paper explores the question of identifying the factors that have hindered the movement of China towards democratic government in the past 20 years. The paper explains that this issue is a complex one given both the anomalous nature of the Chinese state, as well as the diverse range of political, cultural and social factors at play in a country the size and complexity of China. Through a detailed analysis of three key topics from the Democratic Assessment Framework in application to China, we will see how China is today a country still far removed from the promise of democracy.

From the Paper
"The question of identifying the factors that have hindered the movement of China towards democratic government in the past 20 years through the conducting of a democratic audit is a complex one given both the anomalous nature of the Chinese state (i.e., a supposedly Communist government promoting a radically free enterprise economic system), as well as the diverse range of political, cultural and social factors at play in a ..."

Tags:dictorship, Chinese, communist, politics, cultural

Abstract
The paper discusses how to much of the world, it appears that the obstacles standing between China and democratization is its Confucian tradition, which teaches obedience and custom over individuality. However, the paper relates that there are also aspects of Confucian tradition that lean away from strict adherence to custom and rites, when discretion and sympathy are being trodden upon thoughtlessly. The paper explains that there is an argument for kindness as well as custom in Confucian tradition, which can possibly create wiggle room for Confucian practitioners to strive toward a democratic process in China.

From the Paper
"To much of the world, it appears that the obstacles standing between China and democratization is its Confucian tradition, which teaches obedience and custom over individuality. However, there are also aspects of Confucian tradition that lean away from strict adherence to custom and rites, when discretion and sympathy are being trodden upon thoughtlessly. There is argument for kindness as well as custom in Confucian tradition, which can possibly create wiggle room for Confucian practitioners to strive toward a democratic process in China. However, while the Confucian teaching has a proud Chinese history of over 2500 years, there is also the more recent political model dominating China..."

Tags:china, confucius, democracy

Abstract
This paper explores the impact of local political reform in China, which is based on democratic elections on the local level. In particular, the paper focuses on how this empowerment influences the center-local power dynamic in contemporary China. The paper further argues that central government was correct in promoting this initiative as a calculated gamble to reinforce central Communist Party state authority by, paradoxically, supporting democracy and decentralized decision-making at the local level.

From the Paper
"One of the most interesting aspects, and least understood, aspects of the ongoing social, political and economic reforms in China today has been the role of local empowerment through democratic elections. This essay will explore the impact of this local political reform, with particular focus on how this empowerment influences the center-local power dynamic in contemporary China. The thesis will be argued that the central government was correct in promoting this initiative as a calculated gamble to reinforce central Communist Party state authority by, paradoxically,..."

Tags:china, elections, democracy

Abstract
In assessing Russia's progress towards democracy, the quality of Russian democracy, and the effective functioning of Russian institutions, it is evident that after a promising start in the aftermath of the collapse of the Soviet Union, Russia is degenerating back into authoritarianism. Democracy began to fail more than a decade ago during Boris Yeltsin's presidency, mainly because of incompetence and inexperience with democratic institutions and electoral processes, but it is failing today under Vladimir Putin primarily because this former KGB chairman and the authoritarians in his government do not want democratization to succeed in Russia.

From the Paper
Democratic Audit: An Analysis of Democracy in Russia In assessing Russia's progress towards democracy, the quality of Russian democracy, and the effective functioning of Russian institutions, it is evident that after a promising start in the aftermath of the collapse of the Soviet Union, Russia is degenerating back into authoritarianism. Democracy began to fail more than a decade ago during Boris Yeltsin's presidency, mainly because of incompetence and inexperience with democratic institutions and electoral processes, but it is failing today

Tags:democracy, in, russia

Abstract
This paper explores Lawrence F. Kaplan's article "Trade Barrier: Why Trade won't bring Democracy to China." Issues affecting the democratization of China are examined including a lack of wide interest in political change, Chinese property rights and fear of persecution.

From the Paper
"It is widely believed that economic liberty follows political freedom. And the one reason why United States has not been doing anything concrete to hasten the democratization process in China is because it firmly believes in this notion. Almost every policy that United States has made so far in connection with China incorporates this vague idea and the results have been close to negligent if not downright negative. United States maintains that once China starts trading freely with the rest of the world, it will automatically be forced to bring some political changes and that would lead to democracy. But it is easier said than done. For reasons best known to U.S. policymakers, this idea is consistently being reiterated in every congressional speech including the ones delivered by President Bush."

Tags:Kaplan, trade, Bush, Clinton, globalization, commerce, values, property, persecution

Abstract
The paper discusses how both Mongolia and China have Communist legacies and how, after the end of the Cold War, the situation in both countries evolved towards a type of socialism that adapted to an extent to the current realities of political and economic globalization. The paper compares the political situation in both countries and explains that the Mongolian state has been forced to attempt to democratize, while China has the luxury to maintain its political structure intact and to still advance technologically and become one of the most important economies in the world. The paper concludes that China is an example of the way in which socialism can contribute to modernity.

From the Paper
"The history of Asia can be considered to be one of the most controversial, dynamic, and interesting segments of the history of our civilization. This is largely due to the fact that the region experienced along the centuries several influences in terms of political, economic, and social aspects. However, one of the most important ideas related to the evolution of the area is the communist influence which developed as part of the political environment in the region."

Tags:democracy, capitalism, socialism, Communism

Abstract
The paper discusses how the history of Chinese dissent since the Maoist revolution is not encouraging for those with a democratic outlook, though there have been courageous and tragic acts of resistance since the Mao's establishment of the People's Republic of China in 1949. The paper relates that since that time, the most recognized event undertook by the pro democratic movement took place at Tiananmen Square in 1989. The paper explores this earth-shattering event in contrast to how China presents itself to the West, to create an illuminating picture of this proud country's troubles and its rapport with the democratic Western nations.

From the Paper
"The history of Chinese dissent since the Maoist revolution is not encouraging for those with a democratic outlook, though there have been courageous and tragic acts of resistance since the Mao's establishment of the People's Republic of China in 1949. Since that time, the most recognized event undertook by the pro democratic movement took place at Tiananmen Square in 1989. We will explore this earth-shattering event in contrast to how China presents itself to the West, to create an illuminating picture of this proud country's troubles and its rapport with the democratic Western nations. To look at the ongoing cultural crisis that proliferated after the..."

Tags:china, democracy, resistance

Abstract
The paper relates that in this article Daniel Kelliher critically explores one of the most fascinating, and little understood, elements of China's reform programme: village democratic elections in rural China. The paper then discusses how the significance of Kelliher's article lies in his situating the whole issue of this "village democracy" in the context of the decades-old debate among Chinese officials regarding this reform initiative. The paper notes that the strength of this article lies in its explanatory detail of the complex and contradictory perspectives of Chinese government - at different levels - to the prospect of democratic village elections.

From the Paper
"In this article Daniel Kelliher critically explores one of the most fascinating, and little understood, elements of China's reform programme: village democratic elections in rural China. The significance of Kelliher's article lies in his situating the whole issue of this "village democracy" in the context of the decades-old debate among Chinese officials regarding this reform initiative. The strength of this article..."

Tags:articles, china, political