Behind the Appreciation: A Review of Fukuyama's View of China's Pattern of Development

Abstract

In recent years, Francis Fukuyama has on various occasions expressed a surprising appreciation of the Chinese pattern of development. Behind his appraisal, however, lies something not so well intentioned. Although he provides a theoretical discussion of the reasons for China's successful development, this discussion is superficial and distorted. Fukuyama unjustifiably attributes Chinese success to an “export-oriented” economic policy and to a political policy of “reliance on authoritarianism.” His purpose is not to advocate this pattern of development but to criticize it. He depicts this pattern as unsustainable and as unsuitable for use as a model. While claiming to appreciate the Chinese pattern, he also attacks it, and these attacks deserve to be described as arrogant, out of date and inherently weak. Fukuyama expects the Chinese pattern to evolve in the direction of capitalism, not of socialism with Chinese characteristics. His study is based on a reactionary view of history, so it is necessary for us to analyze it in depth and to provide a rectification.

Keywords:

• Fukuyama
• Chinese pattern of development
• historical view

Acknowledgements

The research is sponsored by the major project (no. 11&ZD065) “Studies on Socialist Road with Chinese Characteristics and Human Civilization Development” of the National Social Sciences Fund, the major project (no. 11JJD710001) “Western Marxist Studies on the Way of Human Existence” of the Chinese Ministry of Education Major Research Bases in Philosophy and Social Sciences, and the humanities project (no. 2011RWXKZD012) “Western Marxist Research Fronts on Socialism” of the Project 985 at the third stage with advance on the whole in Fudan University.

Notes on Contributors

Chen Xueming is a professor in the Research Center on Contemporary Overseas Marxism at Fudan University. He is the Chairman of the Chinese Research Association on Contemporary Overseas Marxism. His main publications include The Titanic toward the Iceberg, Recalling Karl Marx, The Dilemma of Time and Unyielding Exploration, and The Immortal Marx.

Jin Yaomei holds PhD in philosophy. She is an associate professor in the School of Marxism at Tongji University, and is Director of the Academic Research Center of the School of Marxism. Her main field of research is Marxism abroad, and her main publications include The Study on Althusser and the Althusser School.