ABSTRACT
Unlike the developing and consolidated democracies in the region, China has become the leading authoritarian regime after the collapse of most communist party-states in 1989–1991. China’s political future may be projected in the following direction: collapse, democratization or stagnation. Few think that China will collapse, even fewer believe that China will democratize in the near future (Gilley 2004). Apparently, the majority of analysts believe that China will be stagnant but remain resilient as an authoritarian regime (Nathan 2003; Pei 2006; Shambaugh 2008). This chapter presents a cautious optimism about China’s prospects for democratic transition triggered by the crises of governance and legitimacy.
