GLOBALISATION, WESTERN HEGEMONY AND CHINESE PARTICULARISM: IMPLICATIONS FOR SOCIAL WORK AND SOCIAL POLICY1
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.15270/44-4-226Abstract
China’s macroeconomic policy, which has recently been described by Chinese policy makersas “a socialist market economy” (Jie, 2004; Zhixin, 2004) but which effectively emerges as astruggle to balance socialism with free market capitalism, contains inherent contradictions.Socialism and free market capitalism are ideologically inconsistent with each other and sharediverse historical roots, with many socialist revolutions being a reaction to the markedeconomic disparities and class differences engendered by capitalist practices. China’sphenomenal economic growth, its obvious neoliberal capitalist practices and its attempt tobalance these with those of socialist ideology and practices raises a critical question: wouldChina implode under the weight of its own contradictions or do these contradictions hold thepotential to chart a new development paradigm for the rest of the world? China is the countryperhaps with the singular ability to contest the unipolar imperialism of the United States;however, the form(s) that this might take remains unclear. In its international relations, China isdriven by pragmatism in respect of foreign trade opportunities, the need for support of theinternational community to maintain peace and domestic stability, and its need for energyresources.Downloads
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