The Prospects for China

Abstract

One of the largest countries in the world is Communist China, whose leadership under Deng Xiaoping was already aware of the need for change before the collapse of the socialist system in Central and Eastern Europe. The development since the end of the Seventies made it clear that a limited release of economic energy would not suffice. A growing number of questions relating to political participation and to the respect of human rights are filling the agenda. Per Fischer, who was German ambassador in Beijing between 1984 and 1987 and has lectured at the Political Science Institute at the University of Mainz since he went into retirement, analyses and assesses the new situation.