Decreasing acceptance of central government in China

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Decreasing acceptance of central government in China

Description:

In recent years in China there has been an increasing number of regional riots and a general decrease in the acceptance of a strong central government in China.

Enablers:

  1. Increased communication within the country: As communication spreads within the country so will new ideas, leading people to question the current system.
  2. Increased Urbanisation: As more people move out of the country and into the city, it will increase the inter-action between people from different regions in China. This may lead to an increased awareness of provincial and cultural differences, causing people to questions the unified goverment system.
  3. Increased migration for work: As people move between provinces to find work, it will force interactions between people who had never previously come into contact with eachother. It may also lead to fear that jobs might be lost to people from other provinces, increasing tension within the country.

Inhibitors:

  1. The communist party's censorship: If the Chinese government can maintain a high level of censorship, it will block ideas from being spread throghout the country. Furthermore, the increased communication may be used to spread more propaganda.
  2. Lack of communication with the outside world for the average citizen: Without having another perspective on the situation, the citizens of China do not really have a frame of reference for their views or ideas.

Paradigms:

This driving force brings into question the concept that China will remain a single cohesive country. If protests continue it may cause to a breakdown in the possibility to govern the country. There is also the possibility that the political borders of China could change.

Timing:

2009: Riots by ethnic Uyghur in the province of Xinjiang
2008: Protests to free the province of Tibet
1989: Tianamen Square Protests

Web Resources:

http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/asiapcf/07/06/china.uyghur.protest/index.html

Revision History:

  1. Created by Geoff Spielman, September 14th, 2009
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