The Plight Of China’s Developmental State

The theory of developmental state came into being in the1980s. Originatedfrom the developmental model of Eastern-Asian countries (as represented by Japan),it’s one of the most typical nationalism theories. Since the founding of P.R.C.,Chinese socio-economical development roughly experienced the transition from the“planned economy model” to the “developmental state model”. In particular, sincethe reform and opening up, China has built its socialist market economymechanism that functions under the combination of governmental macro-controland free market competition, and has thus achieved remarkable economicdevelopment performance. But at the same time, it exists shortcomings, and Chinais now facing certain difficulties in development, especially in fair socialdistribution, societal stability, frequent group events and the sustainability of socialdevelopment. The concept of harmonious society and the scientific outlook ondevelopment raised in recent years actually represent requirements for change ofthe developmental state model.This paper aims to analyze the functions of the Chinese government in China’ssocio-economic development since its reform and opening up with reference to thetheory of developmental state. By examining the reasons of the transition from theplanned economy model to the developmental state model, the features of the developmental state, and particularly the dilemmas the Chinese government facesat this moment, this paper shows the problems that exist in the Chinesegovernment’s socio-economic administration processes, as well as why itsfunctions as a developmental state are get increasingly difficult and therefore mustbe adjusted in time. In other words, as a transitional model of social and economicdevelopment, developmental state model gradually reveals its unfit with aincreasing mature market economy. In addition, this paper also envisagestranscending the model of developmental state.