Grey Areas in China's Growth: A Questionable Development

Abstract

Since ancient times, China has distinguished itself as a great nation in many ways. Its contributions to humanity are undeniable. It was the birthplace of printing, the magnetic compass, silk, the first earthquake detector, the mechan­ical clock and non-submersible vessels, among other crucial inventions. It is also said that China had a high level of literacy from very early times, espe­cially with respect to philosophical and spiritual matters (See Oubifia Falcon 2015 and Pato 2011). Just as in earlier times, the People's Republic of China today sparks great interest for scholars of economics and related issues. China's major contri­bution to the world's gross domestic product (GDP), according to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), amounted to 10.7% of the global economy in 2007. China conducts the largest percentage of global trade and receives the most significant level of direct for­eign investment, all of which figure as elements that draw attention to this country (UNESCO 2010 ). Our intention in this work will consist in identifying the key elements of this spectacular economic growth that China has experienced over recent decades. We will begin by presenting our notion of development and drawing out the variables that implicitly underlie the development process. That will lead us to consider the strategies adopted by China in order to fortify its scientific and technological development, strategies that have reached a critical mass. This approach allows us to analyse both the achievements as well as the social costs incurred. By beginning with this comprehensive perspective, we will then be better able to consider the political order and the state of civil liberties, being that such elements form inseparable parts of the model in place. In this manner, it will be possible to offer important points of debate about the existence of real democracy. At the end, we will offer some reflections that seek to interrelate these monumental elements of economic growth, development and democracy.