Revista CIDOB d'Afers Internacionals (Sep 2003)
The Sixteenth Congress of the Chinese Communist Party and the Beijing Olympic Games
Abstract
With the introduction of the economic reforms initiated by Deng Xiaoping at the end of the 1970s, and with its entry into the World Trade Organisation in 2002, China is on the path to a market economy. The international, or in other words Western, norms regarding good government have already been introduced into the very heart of the Chinese system. The only element lacking in this rapid evolution of the Chinese economy and society is the introduction of political reforms, which are the most dangerous ones due to the challenge they represent for the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) itself. In powerfor the last five decades, the CCP has begun a significant transformation, despite attempting to give the impression that it remains verbally anchored to old doctrines. These changes could mean a political suicide, since the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing could be preceded by a great liberation of the Chinese institutions. It remains to be seen whether or not the Party will be able to control all of the consequences.
