China: The Paradox of Stability
VIEW EVENT DETAILSA Luncheon Presentation by PEI MINXIN, Professor of Government & Director of the Keck Center for International and Strategic Studies, Claremont McKenna College
Chinese leaders have repeatedly stressed that safeguarding social harmony and stability is one of the top priorities for China. On a macro level, China is relatively stable evident by the lack of organized opposition or external threat faced by the government. Yet on the micro level, it is a different story. Riots, social disturbances, abuse of power by local officials and other forms of instability occur daily. Why does this paradox of stability exist? Is there a connection between Beijing's all-out focus on social stability and this paradox? How should the government'both central and local'handle these sensitive issues?
Pei Minxin is Professor of Government and Director of the Keck Center for International and Strategic Studies at Claremont McKenna College. He is also Adjunct Senior Associate at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. Prior to this, he was Director of the China Program at Carnegie Endowment. Pei graduated from Shanghai International Studies University. He received Masters degrees from the University of Pittsburgh and Harvard University and also his Ph.D. from Harvard. Pei is the author of China's Trapped Transition: The Limits of Developmental Autocracy and From Reform to Revolution: The Demise of Communism in China and the Soviet Union.
Chinese leaders have repeatedly stressed that safeguarding social harmony and stability is one of the top priorities for China. On a macro level, China is relatively stable evident by the lack of organized opposition or external threat faced by the government. Yet on the micro level, it is a different story. Riots, social disturbances, abuse of power by local officials and other forms of instability occur daily. Why does this paradox of stability exist? Is there a connection between Beijing's all-out focus on social stability and this paradox? How should the government'both central and local'handle these sensitive issues?
Pei Minxin is Professor of Government and Director of the Keck Center for International and Strategic Studies at Claremont McKenna College. He is also Adjunct Senior Associate at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. Prior to this, he was Director of the China Program at Carnegie Endowment. Pei graduated from Shanghai International Studies University. He received Masters degrees from the University of Pittsburgh and Harvard University and also his Ph.D. from Harvard. Pei is the author of China's Trapped Transition: The Limits of Developmental Autocracy and From Reform to Revolution: The Demise of Communism in China and the Soviet Union.
Event Details
Thu 10 Jun 2010
JW Marriott Hotel, Level 3, Pacific Place, Admiralty Hong Kong
HK$390 Asia Society members/full-time students; HK$490 non-members (priority for members)