China Seminar | 11 October 2001

Globalization and the Rise of Private Business: China's Transition to Capitalism at the Dawn of the 21st Century

Christopher A. McNally

Dr. McNally will explore two daunting challenges facing China at the dawn of the century: the integration of the Chinese economy into the global trading system what will accelerate with China’s entry into the World Trade Organization early next year; and the increasing importance of private business in China’s economy and polity. In particular, he will probe two aspects: the diversification of the Chinese Communist Party’s support base; and the transition of China’s political economy to capitalism.

Fellow of the East West Center Research Program, Dr. McNally recently returned from two months of research in China, visit Hong Kong, Beijing, Chengdu and Kunming. Presently her is working on the nature of East Asian capitalism, especially the rise of private enterprise in China. Dr. McNally has held research fellowships at Murdoch University and the Chinese University of Hong Kong, and he did two years of field work under the auspices of the Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences. He received his Ph.D. in political science from the University of Washington. Dr. McNally has authored numerous publications including Strange Bedfellows: Communist Party Institutions in the Corporate Governance of Chinese State Holding Corporations, The Political Dynamics of Chinese State Sector Reforms, and From Bureau to Corporation.