SOCIAL SCIENCES

The Perfect Dictatorship: China in the 21st Century

by Stein Ringen
Hong Kong Univ. Sept. 2016. 208p. notes. bibliog. index. ISBN 9789888208937. $70; pap. ISBN 9789888208944. $25. POL SCI
COPY ISBN
Ringen (emeritus, sociology & social policy, Univ. of Oxford) examines the question of "whether, under the new [Chinese] leadership, the pendulum is swimming back towards more government by ideology" as it was under Chairman Mao. The author argues that the Chinese government is becoming more ideological and remains highly authoritarian, and in this work addresses party history, border disputes, economic growth, and many other issues in a manner highly critical of the Chinese government. However, Ringen admits that "[e]ven if China is not on a path to democracy, it might be turning into a more benevolent autocracy with a strong component of social protection to its public policy."
VERDICT Ringen provides a wealth of information regarding Chinese leadership and policies in a style that doesn't assume prior knowledge, thereby making it accessible to a wide range of readers interested in the region.
Reviewed by Casey Watters, Singapore Management Univ. , Aug 01, 2016
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