There are many causes for the increased restiveness. In general, modernizing societies are almost always unstable, especially after periods of sustained prosperity. As Alexis de Tocqueville noted, the French Revolution followed an unprecedented economic advance and discontent was most evident in those parts of France that had seen the most improvement. Unfortunately for China’s Communist Party, these trends from Europe’s 18th century also played out in Asia’s 20th, particularly in the Confucian society of South Korea two decades ago and in Chinese-dominated Taiwan a little later.
To make matter worse for themselves, China’s recent leaders have replicated all the conditions under which protests flourish. They have, without this being their intention, adopted policies that have widened the wealth gap, denied the appearance of justice, and promoted runaway corruption. At the same time, Hu and his predecessor, Jiang Zemin, tried to make their rule appear benign, thereby lessening fear in society. So workers in today’s China, more angry and less afraid, are now assertive and defiant.
American Decline
I wasn't there when Nixon made a phone call to the moon.
I wasn't there when Cuba launched their 98th balloon.
I wasn't there when white men stole the black man's rock and roll.
I wasn't there when God made Eve and breathed into her soul.
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brain itches Theme by Adam Holwerda.
I wasn't there when Cuba launched their 98th balloon.
I wasn't there when white men stole the black man's rock and roll.
I wasn't there when God made Eve and breathed into her soul.
following
According to one report, there were 280,000 protests in China last year.
