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When Will the Chinese People Be Free?
- Journal of Democracy
- Johns Hopkins University Press
- Volume 18, Number 3, July 2007
- pp. 38-52
- 10.1353/jod.2007.0055
- Article
- Additional Information
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This article asks: "What will be the future character of China's political system?" According to Freedom House, all countries above a certain income level are rated at least Partly Free, so why not China? Assuming continued growth in education and the economy, the model result shows it edging into that category by 2015 and Free by 2025. Despite evident negatives, changes in personal liberties, legal system, media, village elections, and individual values support this prediction. An in-between stage might involve more open competition within the party. When achieved, a democratic China would be a positive factor for peace in Asia.