Angelica Krauss

10.14.2015
UID- 804-267-888
Poli Sci 159- Wk 3 Rdg 2
1. What reasons does Richard Baum put forward in The China
Syndrome as an explanation of the regimes sustainability? Do you
agree with him? Do you think if he is missing something?
Richard Baum puts forward 5 reasons as an explanation of the regimes
sustainability:
i. Successful economic reform- a full decade of economic reform
in China had
served to raise the living standard of most citizens
and provide a steady flow
of consumer goods. Moreover, the
introduction of a government austerity
program in the last half of
1988 successfully slowed inflation and restored
economic
stability.
ii. Communist Party Unity- the publics perception of absolute,
unwavering
Party unity in support of the crackdown against the
students was a vitally important part of the attempt to discourage
renewed protest.
iii. Military discipline- the generally high degree of political
loyalty and discipline displayed by the PLA throughout the Tiananmen
crisis reinforced
the regime. This strong military discipline and a
long tradition of civil- military harmony dampened enthusiasm for
further revolt.
iv. Absence of civil society- the presence of a powerful,
legitimate and
coercive state apparatus, coupled with the near-total
absence of autonomous,
self-confident social forces contributed to
the death of poplar resistance.
v. Fear of chaos- this phobia, deeply ingrained in Chinese
political culture was played upon incessantly by regime
propagandists following the Tiananmen incident. Citizens would cite
this fear of chaos as a primary
reason for lack of enthusiasm for
renewed political demonstrations.
I agree with Baumall of these factors pt together were the reason the
regime was able to livewith economic reform, party unity/discipline,
and most of all a fear of chaos and of your own government made the
Chinese almost unwilling to challenge anyone in fear of unrest.
2. What are the strengths of The China Model that account for the
regimes survival and revival in the 1990s and afterward?
The strengths of The China Model are that it produces economic growth, which keeps
people happy-- as citizens get richer, the expectation is that a nondemocratic regime can

retain and even enhance its power and authority. As Kevin Hassett, director of economic
policy studies at the American Enterprise Institute, explained: evidence is emerging that
developing countries that are economically and politically free are underperforming the
countries that are economically but not politically free. Hassett wrote, The unfree
governments now understand that they have to provide a good economy to keep citizens
happy, and they understand that free-market economies work best.... Being unfree may be
an economic advantageThe unfree nations will grow so quickly that they will
overwhelm free nations with their economic might. This has kept China growing and
has helped the regime survive. Also, while the leaders open up the economy to foster
consumption, they still retain full political control to silence troublemakerskeeping
them ahead.