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Regional Focus: Asia

Is China the New Model for Development without Democracy?

Kate Zhou
University of Hawaii<

“Economic development happening in China is not because of the authoritarian rule but in spite of it. The engine of growth comes from the people who are trying to extricate themselves from the authoritarian control. Once government accepts some of the grassroots initiatives, reforms occur.”

Building Democracy and Market Economy in Afghanistan

Daoud Sultanzoy
Member of the Afghan Parliament

“We need several things to get Afghanistan back on the road of recovery, especially in the economic field. First, we need a government that is responsible and allows an enabling environment of the rule of law, security, and good governance. This is a basic requirement for any investment or entrepreneur.”

Lessons from the Asian Financial Crisis

Jesus Estanislao
Former Finance Minister of the Philippines

"What East Asian financial crisis has made very clear is that whether you’re in Asia, in the United States, or in Europe, the same values apply, the same principles apply, the same rules apply. We cannot borrow short term in order to lend long term.”

Asia is a large and diverse region with a mix of political and economic systems, from established democracies such as Japan and South Korea, through rapidly growing but institutionally weak authoritarian economies of China or Vietnam, to an oppressive closed regime in Burma, struggling democracy in Afghanistan, and precariously re-established civilian rule in Pakistan. The development of stable market-oriented democracies in the region is often marred by civil strife, natural disasters, and fraudulent elections. In this context, economic change becomes increasingly important as the means of solidifying democratic gains.

In recent years, significant liberalizing changes have taken place in a number of countries, including: a relaxation of strict government controls on media and free speech in Vietnam; a growing understanding of the importance of good governance practices in the fight against corruption in the Philippines; and the amending of China’s constitution to include recognition of private property ownership. But much more progress needs to happen in order to implement those reforms and strengthen democratic and market institutions throughout the region.

The key to successful reforms lies in building grassroots support for democracy and better understanding of the importance of properly functioning, inclusive markets to development. Asia now faces a challenge – and opportunity – to pursue such comprehensive reforms.