In The Media
Minxin Pei
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Source: Getty
In The Media
Were China's Glittering Games All Gold?
The Olympic Games boosted the Chinese Communist Party's popularity among its citizen, the vast majority of whom are proud of their country and the spectacular performance of their athletes. However, the Games won't lead to dramatic change in China's political future; they strengthened the party's rule, leaving it under less pressure to reform.
By Minxin Pei
Published on Aug 31, 2008
Source: The Washington Post
What the Olympics won't do is dramatically change China's political future. The Games strengthened the party's rule, leaving it under less pressure to reform. Beyond China's A+ athletic performance, here's my balance sheet.
-- Minxin Pei,
Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
Organization: A
The logistics and venues received high marks from athletes and visitors. But who will enjoy them now that the Olympians have left town? The average worker? Doubtful.
Security: A
Except for the fatal stabbing of an American at the outset of the Games, they were free of major security incidents.
Pollution: B-
Beijing's air quality, while not pristine, was dramatically better during the Games, thanks to draconian anti-pollution measures and favorable weather patterns. But what happens when they turn the factories back on?
Fun: C+
Tight security greatly dampened the festive atmosphere. Authoritarians don't have more fun. Really.
Western Coverage: C-
Western reporters and columnists dwelled excessively on hot-button issues, such as human rights and press freedom, and offered a lot of blather about a clash between two systems. So very Cold War.
Freedom of Assembly: F
Although the Chinese government set up three special "protest zones," it denied all 77 applications for protest. Fifty-eight foreign protesters were arrested and deported. Two Chinese grandmothers were also threatened with one year in a labor camp. How's that for "One World, One Dream"?
This piece originally appeared in The Washington Post's Outlook section.
About the Author
Minxin Pei
Former Adjunct Senior Associate, Asia Program
Pei is Tom and Margot Pritzker ‘72 Professor of Government and the director of the Keck Center for International and Strategic Studies at Claremont McKenna College.
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