SEMINAR: Political Science and International Relations Seminar Series 2017

These are dark days for advocates of democracy in China. Crackdowns against freedoms of speech, assembly, and thought have intensified under President Xi Jinping, while Western governments are increasingly muted in their response. President Xi’s speech to the 19th Party Congress last week has only deepened these concerns. This makes it even more important to discuss openly the subject of whether and how China could democratize, and the changes necessary for minimalist democracy to emerge. This presentation will examine these issues from a comparative perspective, including the experience of democratic transitions elsewhere in Asia.