“China lacks social capital and this may partially explain the failure of democracy there. The Chinese government’s controls over organizations, organized activities, and religious practices constrain civil society and the development of social capital. Given a weak civil society and a lack of social networks and associations, Chinese society does not have an environment to cultivate the necessary social capital that might support a social trend of democratization.”

• Apply knowledge of policymaking in China and appraise the validity of the above. Justify the position using two case studies from China that illustrate the impact of government control over civil society. Briefly define social capital and democracy.
• With reference to the analysis in (a), find and apply the World Bank’s six indicators of governance–voice and accountability; political stability and the absence of violence; government effectiveness; regulatory quality; rule of law; control of corruption–to evaluate how China has fared with regard to its policymaking and governance.