Kennedy on China

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Sept. 4, 2007

Public Information
(417) 625-9399

JOPLIN, MO (SNS) – Dr. John Kennedy, assistant professor of political science at the University of Kansas, will make two presentations on China Friday, Sept. 7 at Missouri Southern State University.

• “Two Worlds, Single Country: The Rural and Urban Divide in China” will be presented at 9 a.m. Friday, Sept. 7 in Webster Hall Auditorium.  The presentation is free and open to the public.

While the level of per-capita income and economic opportunities has increased dramatically for all Chinese over the last two decades, the rural and urban divide growing inequalities may contribute to greater social unrest and instability. Thus, reducing this gap may be one of the most important challenges for the Chinese central leadership.

•  The second presentation, “Democratizing or Legitimizing the Authoritarian Regime: Political Reform in China Since 1989,” will take place at 11 a.m. Friday, Sept. 7 in Webster Hall Auditorium.  It is also free and open to all.

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 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 teaches courses on Chinese domestic politics, political development, and research methods at K.U.  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.
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