Author
Zhengxu Wang
Other affiliations: National University of Singapore, University of Nottingham
Bio: Zhengxu Wang is an academic researcher from Fudan University. The author has contributed to research in topics: Politics & China. The author has an hindex of 13, co-authored 20 publications receiving 484 citations. Previous affiliations of Zhengxu Wang include National University of Singapore & University of Nottingham.
Topics: Politics, China, Government, Democracy, Democratization
Papers
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TL;DR: The authors found that the Chinese public expresses fairly strong criticism of some aspects of Chinese society, but they express high levels of confidence in the national government, indicating that people are less deferential to authority and increasingly ready to challenge government.
Abstract: Political trust has been declining among the publics of almost all advanced industrial societies in recent years. This has been attributed to a Materialist–Postmaterialist value shift, which has given rise to a public that is less deferential to authority and increasingly ready to challenge government. This phenomenon has been interpreted as a ‘crisis of democracy’. Although one might expect to find low level of political trust in repressive authoritarian societies, survey data indicates that political trust in China is actually very high. Does this simply mean that people are afraid to express any opinions that might be viewed as critical of authority? As this article will demonstrate, this does not seem to be the case. The Chinese public expresses fairly strong criticism of some aspects of Chinese society – but they express high levels of confidence in the national government. Although rich democracies provide both a higher standard of living and more personal freedom than is available to the average Ch...
170 citations
TL;DR: Wang et al. as discussed by the authors captured this decline as reflecting the modernization of Chinese political culture and showed that Chinese citizens are acquiring stronger liberal democratic values, which make citizens more critical toward government institutions.
Abstract: Political trust has been in decline in China. In this article, we capture this decline as reflecting the modernization of Chinese political culture. While the government managed to deliver a sustained period of rapid economic growth, the public's trust in it is diminishing through two mechanisms. On the one hand, Chinese citizens are acquiring stronger liberal democratic values, which make citizens more critical toward government institutions. On the other hand, changing political culture is also shown in the citizens’ shifting of their priorities toward the expansion of freedom and empowerment of citizens. Decades of socioeconomic modernization, therefore, meant that the era of critical citizens has arrived in China.
61 citations
TL;DR: Wang et al. as mentioned in this paper showed that more than 90% of Chinese citizens believe that having a democracy is good, but the majority is not ready for a major effort towards democratization because they still see economic growth and social stability as more important than freedom of speech, political participation, and other democratic rights.
Abstract: It is clear that public support for democracy is high in China Public opinion surveys show that more than 90% of Chinese citizens believe that having a democracy is good But the majority is not yet ready for a major effort towards democratization because they still see economic growth and social stability as more important than freedom of speech, political participation, and other democratic rights However, more and more people are growing up with the belief that political rights and freedom supersede economic wellbeing or other materialist goals In 15–20 years, Chinese society will be dominated by people with such beliefs We can be cautiously optimistic about the prospects for democratic change in China
49 citations
TL;DR: This article argued that the Chinese public's satisfaction with Government performance in both the economic and political arenas translates into a high level of public trust in the regime, and that the Party effectively halts any open challenges to its political power.
Abstract: Using survey data to analyse the strength of the Chinese regime, it is argued that economic development has generated substantial public satisfaction. The public also recognises that the Chinese Communist Party is reforming the Government. The public's satisfaction with Government performance in both the economic and political arenas translates into a high level of public trust in the regime. At the same time, the Party effectively halts any open challenges to its political power. It will therefore likely hold on to power for some time to come. Western nations can assist democracy in China by encouraging the democratic and curbing the authoritarian elements within the regime.
33 citations
Cited by
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Journal Article•
3,713 citations
2,012 citations
TL;DR: Rising Tide: Gender Equality and Cultural Change Around the World as discussed by the authors is a recent book about gender equality and cultural change around the world, focusing on women's empowerment and empowerment.
Abstract: Rising Tide: Gender Equality and Cultural Change Around the World.
1,130 citations
Book•
14 Feb 2011TL;DR: In this article, Pippa Norris examines the symptoms by comparing system support in more than fifty societies worldwide, challenging the pervasive claim that most established democracies have experienced a steadily rising tide of political disaffection during the third-wave era.
Abstract: Many fear that democracies are suffering from a legitimacy crisis. This book focuses on 'democratic deficits', reflecting how far the perceived democratic performance of any state diverges from public expectations. Pippa Norris examines the symptoms by comparing system support in more than fifty societies worldwide, challenging the pervasive claim that most established democracies have experienced a steadily rising tide of political disaffection during the third-wave era. The book diagnoses the reasons behind the democratic deficit, including demand (rising public aspirations for democracy), information (negative news about government) and supply (the performance and structure of democratic regimes). Finally, Norris examines the consequences for active citizenship, for governance and, ultimately, for democratization. This book provides fresh insights into major issues at the heart of comparative politics, public opinion, political culture, political behavior, democratic governance, political psychology, political communications, public policymaking, comparative sociology, cross-national survey analysis and the dynamics of the democratization process.
1,096 citations
TL;DR: Nye, Nye, and Neustadt as mentioned in this paper discussed the scope and performance of government and the evolving scope of government in the U.S. and found that the public lost faith in government.
Abstract: Preface Introduction: The Decline of Confidence in Government Joseph S. Nye, Jr. PART ONE: The Scope and Performance of Government The Evolving Scope of Government Ernest R. May Measuring the Performance of Government Derek Bok Fall from Grace: The Public's Loss of Faith in Government Gary Orren PART TWO: The Menu of Explanations Is It Really the Economy Stupid? Robert Z. Lawrence Social and Cultural Causes of Dissatisfaction with U.S. Government Jane Manbridge The Polarization of American Parties and Mistrust of Government David C. King The Politics of Mistrust Richard E. Neustadt PART THREE: Data on Public Attitudes toward Governance Changing Attitudes in America Robert J. Blendon, John M. Benson, Richard Morin, Drew E. Altman, Mollyann Brodie, Mario Brossard, And Matt James Postmaterialist Values and the Erosion of Institutional Authority Ronald Inglehart Public Trust and Democracy in Japan Susan J. Pharr Conclusion: Reflections, Conjectures, and Puzzles Joseph S. Nye, Jr., and Philip D. Zelikow Notes Contributors Index
750 citations