Conditional Democracy: The Contemporary Debate on Political Reform in Chinese Universities

Little is known about the political views of non-dissident Chinese intellectuals. For this book, Émilie Frenkiel has been granted unprecedented access to the discussions of politically committed Chinese who have been part of the intellectual debate on post-Tiananmen reform. Her in-depth research elicits lively views that reflect the yearnings and fears of the country’s political elite, and reveal the diversity of approaches to China’s democratisation. 

'In the west, where most of us think that democracy based on competitive elections is mankind’s ultimate political journey’s end, we tend to hear only the opinions of Chinese who share our beliefs. Frenkiel’s book gives voice to prominent Chinese academics, helping us better understand ‒ without reinforcing our prejudices ‒ what they think about their present and prospective political system. This rich, informative and refreshing inquiry will help us view the contemporary political debate in China through less distorted lenses.'
Pasquale Pasquino, New York University 

Keywords: Asia, China, Democracy, Democratisation