Institutional reforms in China and how they tackled political and socio-economic reforms in leadership in the 1980s
The Chinese government has made a myriad of institutional reforms that have affected their political, social and economic policies. These reforms have proven to be effective in spurring economic and political growth in China, which is famously known as; The China model. There were two major components of The China Model. The first was to spur economic growth by opening up the economy for domestic and foreign investment, reducing tax and creating ambitious infrastructural projects. Secondly, the ruling party was given total control over the government and the security apparatus such as the army.
By opening up its economy for foreign investment, China ensured an increase in the flow of capital, improved management skills, skilled labor, and increased investment. Chinese companies were open to global competition promoting industrial growth. The Chinese government has enormously improved the living standards of its citizens. The middle class has been given management opportunities in existing and emerging companies. They provide both skilled and semi-skilled labor in the industries. Ownership of emerging government projects such as housing projects is transferred to the citizens by setting the price well below the market price ensuring ordinary citizen can invest.
Most state corporations have been converted to independent commercial companies allowing citizens to own shares providing an avenue for investment. But in doing this; the government still has the full control of important sectors such as the media, transport and communication and the central bank. The Chinese government opening up its economy to the world has ensured ease of financing. The country is now a leading global lender surpassing the World Bank, with most of these lending going to African countries.
Socially, the Chinese government has put in place policies to ensure that books and artwork must bear the approval of the state bureau; the sensor then edits them. This trend is applied to films and movies. The Chinese government has introduced a penalty for media outlets that do not follow the government guidelines. Film producers admit that compliance with the taboo regulations must is non-negotiable for a free work environment. Text messages, emails, and phone calls are monitored. Most websites are screened to ensure contents getting to Chinese people conform to their requirements. Any person who would like to open a website must fully identify themselves to the service provider through their registered identity cards. This part of the Chinese model allows for economic growth, but limits privacy and the right to speech, a trend that is now being adopted by some governments arresting news reporters and bloggers. Chinese people do not wholly depend on courts as the judges are answerable to authorities; they have therefore adopted negotiations. Chinese people are required to report any new individuals in the neighborhood in addition to files of each is kept by the government. Catholic and Protestants are the only churches and individual can join. There are no schools sponsored by churches and spreading of the gospel through public preaching is prohibited.
Conclusion
The Chinese government has introduced and implemented a lot of political and socio-economic policies to ensure that events leading to Tiananmen tragedy do not reoccur. We agree that in as much as some of these policies are oppressive, the general outcome of these policies have spurred China to economic growth and raised its status to a global giant.