Another thing which many chinaphiles seem to forget is the so called "peasant problem" Mainly that out of a 1.3 billion person population, 700-800 million of them are well, peasants. China needs to do something with them, and keep them happy. If you look at China's history, most all of the revolutions, the changes, were because the peseants wanted them to happen. Currently, they are failry happy, although bothered by the rampat corruption that is found in low level officials, and a sense of Beijing ignoring their plight.
If this grows to big,problems may result. What's holding it back right now is the sense of hope and growth China has. I fear the next thing that will hold it back is an increase in nationalistic feelings.
That said the communists are about the most competent rulers (since good old Mao died) that China's had since the mongols..
|