Considering the Experience of China, Can Democracy Be Seen as a Pre-Requisite for Economic Growth
The relationship between democracy and economic growth has long been debated over the years and the emergence and continued rise of China as an economic powerhouse not only in the Asia-Pacific region but in the world has further intensified this debate considering China’s democratic credentials. This essay will assess the arguments surrounding the extent to which democracy as a political system can be considered to be a pre-requisite to economic growth from a global perspective by mainly using China and other Asian economies as a case study.
Economic growth is the increase in the amount of the goods and services produced by an economy over a period of time. It is measured by the percentage rate of increase in real gross domestic product (GDP). It covers the transition of a country from a simple, low-income economy to a modern, high-income economy.
Democracy on the other hand is a system of government which allows citizens’ participation in the decision-making and governance process of a country. Democracy can either occur through direct involvement of the people or through representative participation. In a direct democracy, there is the direct and continuous participation of citizens in government for example through referendums whereas, a representative democracy is administered through the people either electing or appointing representatives to govern and administer the country on their behalf. For example the United Kingdom has a representative democracy hence people elect Councillors, Members of Parliament and Mayors to make decisions on their behalf. The UN Commission on Human Rights in 2002, declared the following to be the essential elements of democracy:
“1.Respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms
2. Freedom of association
3. Freedom of expression and opinion
4. Access to power and its exercise in accordance with the rule of law
5. The holding of periodic free and fair elections by universal suffrage and by secret ballot as the
Economic growth is the increase in the amount of the goods and services produced by an economy over a period of time. It is measured by the percentage rate of increase in real gross domestic product (GDP). It covers the transition of a country from a simple, low-income economy to a modern, high-income economy.
Democracy on the other hand is a system of government which allows citizens’ participation in the decision-making and governance process of a country. Democracy can either occur through direct involvement of the people or through representative participation. In a direct democracy, there is the direct and continuous participation of citizens in government for example through referendums whereas, a representative democracy is administered through the people either electing or appointing representatives to govern and administer the country on their behalf. For example the United Kingdom has a representative democracy hence people elect Councillors, Members of Parliament and Mayors to make decisions on their behalf. The UN Commission on Human Rights in 2002, declared the following to be the essential elements of democracy:
“1.Respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms
2. Freedom of association
3. Freedom of expression and opinion
4. Access to power and its exercise in accordance with the rule of law
5. The holding of periodic free and fair elections by universal suffrage and by secret ballot as the
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