Premium
Reflections on the Chinese State
Author(s) -
Howell Jude
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
development and change
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.267
H-Index - 93
eISSN - 1467-7660
pISSN - 0012-155X
DOI - 10.1111/j.0012-155x.2006.00478.x
Subject(s) - rivalry , china , unitary state , competition (biology) , politics , developmental state , state (computer science) , economic system , economics , foreign direct investment , political economy , divestment , investment (military) , market economy , political science , law , microeconomics , ecology , macroeconomics , finance , algorithm , computer science , biology
This article examines critically the application of the developmental state concept to China. A conjuncture of specific political, socio‐economic and institutional processes, both internal and external, undermines the case for China as a developmental state. Against a back‐drop of intensifying global economic competition, intense rivalry between local economic actors for markets, resources and foreign investment not only produces contradictory developmental outcomes but also undermines the political and administrative capacity for fundamental social and economic transformation. The Chinese state is best understood as polymorphous, assuming multiple, complex forms and behaviours across time and space, and defying reduction to a unitary actor.