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Chapter 18 - A Social Psychological Approach to Understanding China’s Democratisation
from Part III - For the People
- By Yida Zhai
Edited by Ashley Weinberg, University of Salford
Book:

Psychology of Democracy

Published online:

24 February 2022

Print publication:

03 March 2022, pp 403-422
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Summary

As an alternative to structural and elite-centred approaches, this chapter employs a social psychological approach in examining the democratisation of China. Differing from institutional analyses in political studies, it focuses on the role of ordinary people in politics and democratisation. In addition, how ordinary Chinese people view democracy and the current regime is considered as a determining factor in democratisation and aspirations for its development. Based on accumulated empirical findings, this chapter constructs an integrated theoretical framework within which to analyse China’s democratisation. Guided by this framework, the political psychological impact of economic modernisation, the influence of political culture as well as popular perceptions of democracy are investigated in a Chinese context. The analysis indicates a possible trajectory by which democratisation could yet take place in China. Two idealised types of democratisation are also discussed.