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Chapter 18 - A Social Psychological Approach to Understanding China’s Democratisation

from Part III - For the People

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  24 February 2022

By
Yida Zhai
Edited by
Ashley Weinberg
Ashley Weinberg
Affiliation:
University of Salford
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Summary

As an alternative to structural and elite-centred approaches, this chapter employs a social psychological approach in examining the democratisation of China. Differing from institutional analyses in political studies, it focuses on the role of ordinary people in politics and democratisation. In addition, how ordinary Chinese people view democracy and the current regime is considered as a determining factor in democratisation and aspirations for its development. Based on accumulated empirical findings, this chapter constructs an integrated theoretical framework within which to analyse China’s democratisation. Guided by this framework, the political psychological impact of economic modernisation, the influence of political culture as well as popular perceptions of democracy are investigated in a Chinese context. The analysis indicates a possible trajectory by which democratisation could yet take place in China. Two idealised types of democratisation are also discussed.

Keywords

Authoritarian politicsDemocratisationLiberal democratic valuesPerceptions of democracyPolitical trustPro-democracy attitudes
Type
Chapter
Information
Psychology of Democracy
Of the People, By the People, For the People
 , pp. 403 - 422
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2022

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