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China as Exemplar: Justin Lin, New Structural Economics, and the Unorthodox Orthodoxy of the China Model
Author(s) -
Åberg John H. S.,
Becker Derick
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
politics and policy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.259
H-Index - 23
eISSN - 1747-1346
pISSN - 1555-5623
DOI - 10.1111/polp.12376
Subject(s) - china , orthodoxy , politics , political science , washington consensus , soft power , mainstream , political economy , development economics , positive economics , sociology , economics , law , philosophy , theology
Despite vociferous disagreement by scholars and ambivalence by China over a “China Model” of development, China is still held up as an exemplar of development. Nowhere is this clearer than in the theory of New Structural Economics (NSE) promulgated by the former Chief Economist of the World Bank, Justin Lin. We seek to critically engage Lin's theory apropos of China and China's geopolitical and economic interests in Africa. Lin argues that developing countries can learn from China's development experience, and his theory, NSE, fills this experience with theoretical content. China, though often dismissive of a “China Model,” gains a soft power advantage from its association with NSE as an exemplar and from Lin's own role in rationalizing China‐Africa economic interests in purely analytical and intellectual terms. In Ethiopia, the regime actively heeded Lin's policy advice and implemented development policies in line with his theoretical model. Justin Lin's “China Model” is not an antagonistic model, but part of mainstream economic theorizing. It does not represent a competing counter‐hegemonic model. It is complementary to the global capitalist system. This is the unorthodox orthodoxy of Justin Lin's “China Model.” Related Articles (in this Special Issue) Davidsson, Simon. 2020. “Modeling the Impact of a Model: The (Non)Relationship between China's Economic Rise and African Democracy.” Politics & Policy 48 (5). Hodzi, Obert, and John H. S. Åberg. 2020. “Introduction to the Special Issue: Strategic Deployment of the China Model in Africa.” Politics & Policy 48 (5). Ziso, Edson. 2020. “The Political Economy of the Chinese Model in Ethiopia.” Politics & Policy 48 (5).