Is There a Chinese Model?

China's extraordinary growth in recent years has led many to wonder if a model can be erected based on this development. In China, though, scholars disagree whether a “Chinese model” of growth exists sufficient to export to other developing countries. According to David Shambaugh, director of George Washington University's China Policy Program, one must isolate four key elements of any supposed “model” for consideration: politics, economics, social welfare, and foreign policy. On each of these elements, China represents either too unique a circumstance for others to copy or the factors simply don’t apply. Indeed, China’s “Harmonious World” diplomatic strategy is specifically designed for its unique context, while China's economy is an amalgam of control and market systems that would be tough to replicate in other societies even if there were the desire. Moreover, Shambaugh writes, efforts to conceptualize a “coherent model” are futile. The most important and useful aspect of China's development is its ability to adapt in diverse ways to the changing demands of global affairs. – YaleGlobal