Special Economic Zone and the Development of Chinese Politics

Author: Zhu Demi
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-01-01
Features: This book attempts to explain the logic and patterns of contemporary Chinese political development by tracing the historical transformation of the establishment, development, and gradual convergence of special economic zones with other regions. It elaborates on the impact of special economic zones on Chinese political development, focusing primarily on how international factors transition from "exogenous variables" to "endogenous variables," thereby promoting ideological evolution and institutional changes in contemporary China. The political effects of special economic zones are also reflected in their role as a "testing ground" for national innovation, as well as the resulting "demonstration effect" and "diffusion effect." One might even say that the "today" of special economic zones is the "tomorrow" of other regions. Therefore, unlike studies that focus on the economic effects of special economic zones, this book primarily examines them from a political science perspective, specifically the "political spillover" effects of special economic zones. These are the main themes of the book.
The research perspective traces the conception, establishment, development, and diffusion of the demonstration effect of special economic zones, reflecting the process of China's transition from a planned economy system to a market economy system and from a traditional closed society to a modern open society, while exploring the political transformations that occurred during this period. Thus, this book falls under the category of meso-level research, with its central focus being China's political development over the past two decades.