Guo Baogang, China’s Quest for Political Legitimacy: The New Equity-Enhancing Politics

Abstract

China's Quest for Political Legitimacy fills a much needed niche with its analysis of the post-Deng period. This thoughtful study is timely as China grapples with the social consequences and economic spillovers of rapid growth. In economics, the trade-off between efficiency that allows growth, and the equity distribution of the benefits of that growth, are well known. Professor Guo creatively applies these concepts to analyze the current leadership's overarching strategy of harmonious society andscientific development. By explaining the new politics of equity with examples from health care, environment and labor, Professor Guo lays the groundwork for one approach to understanding the building of a new political legitimacy. Growth is necessaryfor progress in China, but the building of institutions of modern society needs to also occur. Professor Guo takes this one step further-arguing that a new approach is needed for sustained economic progress but also for the continued legitimacy of the governing party and state. The post-Deng leadership has based its future on success in the equity realm but faces many challenges in moving to the next stage of modernization. This thoughtful study is timely as China grapples with the social consequence (Penelope Prime, Director, China Research Center, Mercer University) This study is an important contribution that will enhance our understanding of Chinese politics. It should find a wide audience as it will appeal to practitioners, academics and anyone with an interest in China. (Dennis V. Hickey, Missouri State University) China's Quest for Political Legitimacy fills a much needed niche with its analysis of the post-Deng period. This thoughtful study is timely as China grapples with the social consequences and economic spillovers of rapid growth. In economics, the trade-off between efficiency that allows growth, and the equity distribution of the benefits of that growth, are well known. Professor Guo creatively applies these concepts to analyze the current leadership's overarching strategy of "harmonious society" and "scientific development." By explaining the "new politics of equity" with examples from health care, environment and labor, Professor Guo lays the groundwork for one approach to understanding the building of a new political legitimacy. Growth is necessary for progress in China, but the building of institutions of modern society needs to also occur. Professor Guo takes this one step further-arguing that a new approach is needed for sustained economic progress but also for the continued legitimacy of the governing party and state. The post-Deng leadership has based its future on success in the equity realm but faces many challenges in moving to the next stage of modernization. This thoughtful study is timely as China grapples with the social consequences and economic spillovers of rapid growth. By explaining the "new politics of equity" with examples from health care, environment and labor, Professor Guo lays the groundwork for one approach to understanding the building of a new political legitimacy. The post-Deng leadership has based its future on success in the equity realm but faces many challenges in moving to the next stage of modernization. Professor Guo creatively applies concepts of efficiency and equity to analyze China's leadership's overarching strategy of "harmonious society" and "scientific development." By explaining the "new politics of equity" with examples from health care, environment and labor, Professor Guo lays the groundwork for one approach to understanding the building of a new p (Penelope Prime, Director, China Research Center, Mercer University) Guo (Dalton State College) draws on empirical, historical, and cultural sources to argue that the political leadership in China's single-party system is seeking to promote a "new politics of equity" keyed to the country's rapid economic advance. The author sees this agenda as requiring a "new political legitimacy" affixed to the authoritarian framework―an innovation allowing for limited electoral and deliberative democracy. The book is useful mostly for the light it sheds on the health care, environment, and labor policy sectors. Readers may wonder where democracy in China is and whether there is potential for a meaningful democratic evolution. The tables and selected bibliography are useful. Graduate, research, and professional collections. (June 2011 CHOICE)