Democratizing or Legitimizing the Authoritarian Regime: Political Reform in China Since 1989
11:00 a.m., Friday, Sept. 7, 2007
Webster Hall Auditorium
Admission: free

While it is clear that China is currently governed by a single party authoritarian regime, a number of limited political reforms have been introduced over the last two decades. The most notable reforms are local elections for village leaders in the countryside (grassroots democracy) and laws that allow individuals to sue local government agencies and officials. The intent of the central leadership is not to democratize China. Instead, these reforms are meant to serve as an outlet for citizen dissatisfaction — that is, using legal means rather than protest and revolts. Indeed, many citizens view the national laws as tools to protect themselves from abusive local officials. Rather than undermine the position of Chinese Communist Party, these reforms have helped legitimize the central leadership. However, the unintended result of grassroots democracy and legal reforms may be a growing demand for greater democratic reforms.

Dr. John Kennedy is an assistant professor of political science at the University of Kansas where he teaches courses on Chinese domestic politics, political development, and research methods. He has published articles in Asian Survey, The China Quarterly, the Journal of Chinese Political Science, and the Journal of Political Science Education. He has spent several years living in China and has returned at least two or three times a year since 1994. His research interests are in the areas of institutional change and political reform in rural China.