Kato, "Reconciling socialism with the market: The "privatization" debates in China (1993--2002)," 2008.

Yayoi Kato, Ph.D.

Abstract (Summary)
This dissertation examines the role of ideology and its interaction with market principles in China's reform policy making process. Through the content analysis of internal publications, this research analyzes the policy debates over the treatment of the private economy (the ownership reform) and the property rights/shareholding reforms during the Jiang Zemin era from 1993 to 2002. The emphasis of the analysis lies on how the central policy makers adjusted socialist ideology according to the changing market conditions at local levels, such as the emergence and expansion of the private economy and private ownership. The 10 years of the reform debates reveal a painful process during which the Chinese state slowly--and often reluctantly--relinquished its control over economic affairs, leaving their management in the hands of private entities and market forces. After the chronological descriptions of the debate process of each reform issue area, the dissertation determines which of the two factors--socialist ideology or market principles--was more important in deciding the direction of these "privatization" debate processes. The two competing hypotheses--the ideology-driven and market condition-driven debates--are tested with the content analysis data. This research also examines the top leaders' role in controlling the reform debate as well as the reform process itself using ideology as a political resource, and illuminates ideology's enduring importance, its changing core principles, and its function for the reform process and the maintenance of the political system. Through these examinations, this dissertation research attempts to understand some of the key mechanisms of China's political and economic system called "socialist market economy" or "socialism with Chinese characteristics."

Advisor: Rosen, Stanley
Committee members: Crigler, Ann,  Lynch, Daniel