From Communism To Democracy Essay, Research Paper
From Communism to Democracy
Gradualism is naturally the most feasible approach to any
situation. Since the fall of the iron curtain, these two Communist
power houses have chose to move towards democracy. China has chosen
to take the natural, more gradual approach to democracy where as
Russia has chosen the fast-paced, more dangerous approach. These two
nations have chosen to change their economies from a collectivized
command one to a market oriented one in order to increase the standard
of living in their countries. As we have seen in recent years, China
is booming and becoming more and more successful, while Russia seems
like it is regressing back to parochial ways. It is impossible to
compare anything but Russia and China’s approaches to change, and the
results that incurred. The two nations have vastly different
economies and to compare one economy to another would be illogical.
China and Russia’s approach to change are vastly different,
almost like night and day. China’s political and economic policy has
always been to do things gradually. Whereas Russia believed in going
through the necessary changes quickly, so that the hardship would in
turn pass just as quickly. In the implementation of their policies,
we have seen that China’s approach has led to a 29% of growth in their
industrial field. But in comparison, Russia only yielded 15% with
their approach. But one must keep in mind that China has more
industrial sectors than does Russia, so their job in improving
industry is notably easier than Russia’s feat in developing an
industry.
Politically, the two nations have the same policies that they
held in their economies. China believes in gradually letting the
people have more access to political freedom. And again, Russia’s
policy has been to flood them all at once with these new found
freedoms. Unfortunately Russia’s policy hasn’t been the most
naturally feasible approach again. Their people have been suddenly
bombarded with all of these new found freedoms they have never
experience before. They are like little children let loose in a candy
store. There are all of these new things available to them, and most
of the younger generation wants too try everything at once. All of
these citizens experimenting with their new freedoms are creating
political chaos. The Russian citizens don’t have time to savor their
new freedoms and are just trying to grab them from left and right.
For they are probably afraid that if they don’t take their freedoms
quickly, they will leave as quickly as they came. On the other hand,
China refuses to allow their citizens run the nation. Instead they
are continuing to shun democracy. They refuse to have democratic
elections, pro-democracy demonstrations, and still censor the press.
They are still trying to maintain that wall that separates them from
the rest of the world. From a democratic aspect, China’s approach is
appalling. China is refusing basic democratic rights that the Western
nation citizens take for granted. China is under the misconception
that they can give it’s people little crumbs of freedom and keep them
from wanting more. China’s leaders think that they can keep
controlling that many people for an undetermined amount of time, they
don’t realize that once the people know about a better life, nothing
can stop them from pursuing that life also. So looking at Russia and
China’s political policies, it is safe to say that what is good for
the economy may not necessarily be good for the people.
When looking at evolution and physiology, one will also notice
that changes naturally happen gradually. Over time, living organisms
change and evolve, but the key ingredient is time. Sometimes changes
take place over thousands of millions of years, as intended by nature.
But when examining a change in nature that occurred spontaneously or
quickly, one will notice that the change was usually a fluke, or a
by-product of the interferences by mankind. China has taken the
natural path, and has gradually succeeded in the short time span that
it has be on the market-oriented path. On the other hand, Russia, who
chose to take a fast-paced approach is suffering and has not succeeded
in changing.
Personally, I believe that the Russian people will try to
revert back to communism, but will be stopped, either by force or by
will. They people will become so fed up with the hardship they endure
and the constant longing for when life was better under the red guard,
that they will tr to start a revolt to go back to communism. But
their attempts to go back will be defeated by either force (like
Tienamin Square) or by will. The Russian economy will continue to
slowly improve for about 40 to 70 years until they have reached decent
standard of living levels. And after the improvement on the economy,
they will realize that democracy will help them, and that there will
be an energetic burst to further pursue democracy. I believe that
China will continue to improve their industry and will attempt to
maintain an iron grip on their people, but will fail. The Chinese
will revolt against the suppression of their democratic rights and
will try another revolt to receive their rights. If the revolt is big
enough, and not isolated to one certain sector, but is dispersed
nation-wide, then they will succeed. But if it is only a small group,
then they will fail.