This Article Full Text (PDF) References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Citing Articles via Scopus Google Scholar Articles by Peerenboom, R. Search for Related Content Social Bookmarking                         What's this?

Law and Development of Constitutional Democracy: Is China a Problem Case?

UCLA Law School

China is frequently portrayed as a problem case for the law and development movement because it has achieved economic growth with a weak legal system, has resisted the third wave of democratization, and has a poor record on civil and political rights. Is China a problem case? The author thinks not, or at least that it is too early to tell. China is now following the path of other East Asian countries that have achieved sustained economic growth, established rule of law, and developed constitutional or rights-based democracies, albeit not necessarily liberal rights-based democracies. At this stage of development, for all of its problems, China is meeting or exceeding expectations on most measures. China outperforms the average country in its income class in terms of economic growth, rule of law and most human rights measures, and other indicators of human well-being with the notable exception of civil and political rights.

Key Words: law and development • comparative law • China • human rights • democracy • constitutionalism • economic growth

The ANNALS of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, Vol. 603, No. 1, 192-199 (2006)
DOI: 10.1177/0002716205281505


CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    Twitter    What's this?