China: Misfit Maker
| Published date | 01 September 2023 |
| DOI | http://doi.org/10.1177/20419058231198585 |
| Author | William Hurst |
| Date | 01 September 2023 |
32 POLITICAL INSIGHT • SEPTEMBER 2023
For nearly 40 years, most political
commentators, both in Britain
and across many Western
countries, saw China as a useful,
even essential, partner in the expansion
of globalised trade, economic growth,
and development. It was widely assumed
that ever-deeper engagement would ease
liberalisation and potentially even lead to
eventual democratisation in the People’s
Republic. The past ve or six years have
seen a sharp reversal, with most public
voices now expressing fear and widespread
consensus that China is an important and
possibly implacable challenger to Western
interests, values and power.
In both readings, China has too often
been a tool of argument, a rhetorical device
rather than an object of study or analysis. I’d
like to oer a brief corrective, highlighting
basic aspects of Chinese politics and how its
government sees itself and its own interests,
before explaining how the UK might think
more constructively and creatively about
dealing with China.
China on the world stage
Before considering China’s geopolitical
China: Misfit Maker
China’s global ambitions are a constant topic of geopolitical debate
and discussion. But to understand Beijing’s aims and interests, we
need careful analysis of Chinese internal politics, as well as its
external position, writes William Hurst.
aims and interests, we need to recognise
that China is not likely to bend toward
some version of liberal democracy – but
neither is it hell-bent on destroying liberal
great powers or the international order
they have crafted and continue largely to
dominate. Domestically, China is neither
on a sustainable path to stable prosperity
and mass consumption nor locked in a
chaotic death spiral and about to implode.
Political, social, and economic reality is
far more subtle, both inside China and in
China’s relations with the rest of the world,
than many on both sides of contemporary
debates can be tempted to assume or
allege.
Looking at China on the world stage,
rather than thinking of it simply as an
adversary or partner, a ‘black knight’ or a
‘player of our game’, a more useful heuristic
Political Insight September 2023.indd 32Political Insight September 2023.indd 32 14/08/2023 12:2414/08/2023 12:24
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