The article deals with China’s rise as an economic power today and the social, cultural and political issues it deals with
today. According to the author, it is through an analysis of China’s past and contemporary problems that we can predict China’s development. Although China has seen rapid economic growth, there are several issues that the country faces.
There are labor problems such as unemployment, labor relations, and informal employment. China also faces a farm crisis due to heavy migration to towns and cities. There are social issues on land rights and private ownership because of conflicts between modernization and collective ownership. Corruption and tensions between provincial and central control also exists. Environmental degradation is a concern that affects China as well as other nations.
Currently there have been changes in China’s policies. There is a resurgence of Confucianism and a growing acceptance of religions. Economic decision making has also been decentralized. A sense of nationalism has grown and with greater wealth, China has accepted greater responsibilities in international affairs. All these leads the author to project that China will gradually move towards pluralism.