Rising China and Asian Democratization: Socialization to Global Culture in the Political Transformations of Thailand, China, and Taiwan

This book argues that democratization is inherently international: states democratize through a process of socialization to a liberal-rational global culture. This can clearly be seen in Taiwan and Thailand, where the elites and attentive public now accept democracy as universally valid. But in China, the ruling communist party resists democratization, in part because its leaders believe it would lead to China's permanent decentering in world history. As China's power increases, the party could begin restructuring global culture by inspiring actors in other Asian countries to uphold or restore authoritarian rule.

Author: Daniel C. Lynch
Publisher: Stanford University Press
Published: 08/21/2008
Pages: 320
Binding Type: Paperback
Weight: 0.97lbs
Size: 8.80h x 5.90w x 0.70d
ISBN: 9780804761048

About the Author
Daniel C. Lynch is Associate Professor of International Relations at the University of Southern California. He is also the author of After the Propaganda State: Media, Politics, and Thought Work in Reformed China (Stanford, 1999).