Comparison of authoritarian state and transition to democracy in China and Iran

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Faculty of Political Science, University of Tehran

2 Faculty member of Political Science, Payame Noor University

10.30510/psi.2022.318034.2754

Abstract

Abstract
This article seeks to examine the transition to democracy in China and Iran in the late 20th century due to economic and social reforms in both countries. Both countries sought a series of economic and social reforms in the late 20th century, but the democratization of the linear model did not occur in the two countries with the economic and social precondition of transition to the democracy desired by some theorists. The question arises why, despite the fact that economic and social changes occurred as a precondition for democracy in the two countries, but democratization did not occur from below in both countries?
The method of research is historical comparative. It will try to survey the obstacles to democratization in Iran and China, despite some similarities such as increasing GDP, urbanization, middle class growth, etc. in both countries.
Findings show that the traditional confucian culture based on a harmonious society and the Leninist institutional legacy of the Communist Party based on the monopoly of power in China and the Islamic culture based on divine sovereignty in Iran, as well as the need for economic development, public welfare and political stability as a priority for the people in both countries have weakened the possibility of democratization from below and have only made democratization possible from above.

Keywords

Political Sociology of Iran
Volume 5, Issue 12
February 2023
Pages 687-701

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