The Middle Class And Democratization In Mainland China And Taiwan

In the process of modernization, the change of social classes and especially the emergence and growth of the middle class is a phenomenon with universal meaning. The modernization theorists have two kinds of opinion about the middle class and democratization. Some theorists like Lipset and Huntington argue that the emerging middle class would promote the process of modernization and democratization. Some other theorists think that the role of the middle class in democratization has been questioned. Scholars believe that the middle class in late developing countries tend to rely on the state and establish good relationship with the political elites in order to protect and enhance their own economic interests. As a result, the middle class in the late developing countries is reluctant to challenge the incumbent regime and to promote democracy.Since Deng Xiaoping carried out the reform and opening-up policy in 1978, a new Chinese middle class emerged with the economic growth. It has been hot topic that whether the middle class in Mainland China will be a harbinger for democracy. The thesis first defines the middle class in Mainland China and then explores the right consciousness, political orientation and political participation of the middle class. The survey carried out in Nanjing, Shanghai and Beijing shows that although the middle class shares the idea of protecting individual rights and the participation of middle class is slightly higher than that of the lower class, the middle class still do not advocate political liberty and show indifferences to political institutional changes. The Internet has provided the middle class a better platform to participate in politics. As the economic interests of the middle class are closely connected with the party-state, it is unlikely for the middle class to act as a harbinger for democracy in China.The political transition of Taiwan has been regarded as a model of pure middle-class driven democratization. The thesis reviews the process of democratization of the island the role of the middle class in the democratization. The middle class has played an important role in the political transition of the island, but it is not a leading factor. As the interests of the middle class in Taiwan also depend on the party-state, the middle class is conservative towards political reform. The democratization of Taiwan is the outcome of various factors.The middle class in Taiwan and mainland China is the outcome of economic reform and growth. The two economies share some similarities, but the private sector in Taiwan enjoys more freedom compared with that in mainland China. As a result, the middle class in Taiwan is less dependent on the party-state. The KMT and the CCP also share some similarities. However, the KMT regime gradually transforms into a soft authoritarian party, while the CCP still has strong control over the society and the political participation of the middle class has been limited.