This study concerns itself with three questions about democratic transition through economic means, including a case study on Vietnam. Is economic growth correlated with democracy?
There is a definite tendency towards a correlation between economic growth and democratization. Which are the economic determinants of democratization? The level of wealth, industrialization, economic openness and education as well as the strength of the middle class and the level of inequality. Which is the level of economic development in Vietnam on its way to democracy? Vietnam is not yet as well-to-do or developed as to achieve democracy through economic development.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Democratization and Economic Transition
2.1. Determinants of Democracy
2.2. Democratization and Transition
2.3. Growth
2.4. The Correlation between Growth and Democracy
2.4.1. Does growth cause democratization?
2.4.2. Does only growth cause democratization?
3. Economic Factors of Democratization
3.1. Wealth
3.2. Industrialization
3.3. Economic Openness
3.4. Level of Education
3.5. Expansion of the Middle-Class
3.5.1. Middle-Class
3.5.2. Urban working-class
3.5.3. Determining the Strength of the Middle-Class
3.5.4. Determinants of Urbanization
3.6. Inequality
4. Development in Vietnam since Doi Moi
4.1. Economic Transition
4.2 Political Development
5. Economic Factors of Democratization in Vietnam
5.1. Wealth
5.2. Industrialization
5.3. Economic Openness
5.4. Education
5.5. Middle Class
5.6. Inequality
6. Conclusion
Objectives and Research Themes
The primary objective of this paper is to evaluate the determinants of Vietnam's economic success story and to explore how this economic growth influences the prospects for a transition to democracy. By examining established theoretical frameworks regarding the correlation between economic development and political liberalization, the paper aims to apply these findings to the specific context of Vietnam.
- Theoretical evaluation of the correlation between economic growth and democratization.
- Identification of key economic determinants: wealth, industrialization, economic openness, education, middle-class strength, and inequality.
- Analysis of Vietnam's economic development and transition since the Doi Moi reforms.
- Assessment of the current political status and the potential for democratic change in Vietnam based on economic factors.
Excerpt from the Book
1. INTRODUCTION
”Vietnam has the potential to be one of the great success stories in development. It has already achieved one of the fastest improvements in living standards in the world, with a great reduction in poverty. Driven by the first stage of reforms and the benefits of trade and WTO accession, Vietnam is on pace to become a middle income country by 2010” (World Bank 2007).
Following current World Bank President Robert Zoellick’s presupposition of acknowledging Vietnam’s economic success story during a visit in 2007, the aim of this paper is to assess the determinants of this success story, if there is one, and utilize them to explore the effects Vietnam’s economic growth would have on the prospect of a transition to democracy.
At least since Seymour Lipset’s hypothesis that “[t]he more well-to-do a nation, the greater the chances that it will sustain democracy” (Lipset 1959: 75), the research on the effects of economic development and growth on the process of democratization makes a large part of comparative politics and democracy research. Nevertheless, other countries in South East Asia, like Thailand, Malaysia or even Singapore are more in the centre of attention of the comparative political science scholars than Vietnam. That is since the communist regime has hardly shown any sign of political liberalization and seems untouched by Lipset’s assumption until today. Its constant economic growth makes it one of the most stable autocracies in the world reducing, in addition, the prospect of a successful transition in the near future.
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: Presents the research motivation, identifying Vietnam's economic transformation and investigating the potential correlation between this development and prospects for democratization.
2. Democratization and Economic Transition: Reviews foundational theories regarding the definitions of democracy, the process of transition, and the debated correlation between economic growth and political change.
3. Economic Factors of Democratization: Aggregates six key economic indicators—wealth, industrialization, openness, education, middle-class, and inequality—that influence the potential for democratic development.
4. Development in Vietnam since Doi Moi: Examines the historical context of Vietnam’s economic reforms since 1986 and analyzes its current political regime and lack of significant liberalization.
5. Economic Factors of Democratization in Vietnam: Applies the theoretical indicators developed in chapter 3 to empirical data from Vietnam to evaluate its current stage of economic development.
6. Conclusion: Synthesizes the findings, concluding that while Vietnam has achieved significant economic growth, it remains at a low level of absolute development, offering limited influence for near-term democratic transition.
Keywords
Democratization, Economic Growth, Vietnam, Doi Moi, Economic Development, Modernization Theory, Political Transition, Middle Class, Inequality, Industrialization, Trade Openness, Autocracy, Political Economy, Wealth Distribution, Social Indicators.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core subject of this work?
The work investigates the relationship between economic growth and the process of democratization, specifically using Vietnam as a case study to determine if economic success leads to political transition.
What are the primary thematic fields covered?
The research covers comparative politics, modernization theory, economic history, and specific socio-economic metrics such as poverty reduction, educational attainment, and income distribution in Vietnam.
What is the primary research goal?
The goal is to determine if the specific economic factors that have driven Vietnam's recent success also create the necessary conditions for a transition toward a democratic political system.
Which methodology is employed in the study?
The study utilizes a combination of qualitative literature review of political theories and quantitative analysis of economic datasets from sources such as the World Bank and the General Statistics Office of Vietnam.
What is discussed in the main body of the paper?
The main body establishes the theoretical link between economy and democracy, details the specific economic factors relevant to democratization, and provides a thorough empirical evaluation of Vietnam's performance across these metrics.
Which keywords characterize this paper?
Key terms include democratization, economic development, Doi Moi, political transition, and various measures of economic status such as the Gini coefficient and middle-class size.
Does economic growth in Vietnam currently support democratization?
The author concludes that while Vietnam has experienced high growth, it is still at an absolute level of development that does not currently provide a positive influence for a transition toward democracy.
How does the author view the role of the middle class in Vietnam?
The author notes that while a middle class is emerging, it remains largely dependent on the state and political class, making it less likely to act as a catalyst for political change in the near future.
What challenges does the Vietnamese education system face?
The paper identifies challenges such as declining primary school enrollment and a system that prioritizes cadre training over innovation, which could hinder long-term economic and social progress.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Frederik Marmann (Autor:in), 2009, Economic Factors of Democratization, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/437243
