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The Cry for Chinese Democratization: Between Idealism and Realism

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Abstract

The generational power transfer from president Hu Jintao and premier Wen Jaibao to the new president Xi Jinping and the new premier Li Keqiang took place between November 2012 and April 2013. It was both preceded and accompanied by a remarkable upsurge of protest both in mainland China and in the West over the Chinese government’s undemocratic attitude. But were these protests guided by Idealism or Realism?

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Notes

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    Cf. Democratic China online: http://www.democraticchina.org/.

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  21. 21.

    E. U. v. Weizsäcker in conversation with Roland Benedikter, Santa Barbara, February 2008. Archive of the author.

  22. 22.

    F. Lizhi, quoted in: A. Ramzy: Fang Lizhi. In: Time, April 23, 2012, p. 13.

  23. 23.

    Lu-huei Chen and Ying-nan Chen, The National Chengchi University Taiwan’s University Project: Post-materialism and Political Support in Taiwan and China. In: S. Kang (ed.): Social Change and Postmaterialism in Korea. Acta of the International Conference, Gyeongsang National University Jinju, May 24, 2012, Gyeongsang National University and National Research Foundation of Korea, pp. 22–36.

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Benedikter, R. (2014). The Cry for Chinese Democratization: Between Idealism and Realism. In: China’s Road Ahead. SpringerBriefs in Political Science. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-9363-1_2

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