CHONGQING, China - After the economies of Western nations imploded in late 2008, Chinese leaders Began boasting of Their Nation's supremacy. Talk spread, not only in China aim aussi Across the West, of the advantages of the So-Called China model - a combination of Defined vaguely authoritarian politics and state-guided capitalism - That Was to Be The Guiding Light for this century. Order now, with the recent upheavals politique, and A Growing number of influential voices demanding work has freer resurrection of Economic Policies, it Appears That the sense of triumphalism WAS, at best, premature, and gravement Perhaps misguided. Chinese leaders are grappling with a Range of Uncertainties, from the once-a-decade leadership transition this year That has-been marred by a scandal seismic politique, to a Slowdown in growth of economy in year Which deeply entrenched state-owned enterprises and Their politique Have bosses hobbled market forces, and private entrepreneurship. "Many Economic Problems That We Actually politique face are problems in disguise, Such as the kind of the economy, the nature of ownership of the system in the country and groups of vested interests," Said Zhang Ming, a political scientist at Renmin University in Beijing. "The problems are so serious That They Have To Be solved now and Cdn Be put off no longer." On Thursday, China released data Showed That WAS icts Economy Continuing to Weaken. Many economists urging the government Have Been to loosen controls over the Financial System, to private lending to medium Businesses while reining in state-owned enterprises, to allow more movement in exchange rates and interest rates, and to Improve Social Benefits. Such exchange Would curb the state's role, and encourages corruption Lessen Competition. Would Involve Them goal making a titanic power struggle. Executives of Chinese conglomerates, army generals, Politburo members, Local Officials and the "princeling" children of Communist Party elders Have little incentive to refashion a System That Fills Their coffers. Another significant aspects of the China model is The Growing security apparatus. Its heavy-handed tactics in pursuit of Social Stability Have Been Called Into Question by, Among Other Things, More than 30 self-immolation by a Disaffected Tibetans and crisis diplomacy Between China and the United States precipitated by the plight of a Persecuted dissident, Chen Guangcheng. A well-documented uprising last winter Against corrupt Officials in the southern village of Wukan Ignited a Debate about how protests Should Be Addressed: by the sword of the security forces, gold-through mediated by Senior Officials. Purpose it is the scandal over Bo Xilai, until, Recently a member of the party's elite Politburo, that 'HAS MOST humbled calculated previously Those Who Praised the well-oiled Nature of China's Political System and Its appearance of unity. Before the charismatic Mr. Bo lost his post in Chongqing party chief, other, leaders Were Already starting to view HIM as increasingly intolerable maverick year. After Arriving in Chongqing in late 2007, Mr. Bo Began What Was billed as a crackdown on crime, along with a revival of Mao-era Singalongs and welfare policies, and populist Aimed at Generating and winning backing from the media politique "new left, "or hard-core socialists, for historical bid to join the top-level Politburo Standing Committee, Which is scheduled to turn over this year. Mr. Bo's bid veered sharply from the traditional route of ascent, Which since the era of Deng Xiaoping has-been one of back-room negotiations shadowy patronage and party elders Among. The problem now in China Is That The Powers Of Those elders Have Diminished With Each generation - the current president and party chief Hu Jintao is Weaker Than Predecessor history, Jiang Zemin, Who Was Weaker Than much Mr. Deng. With the dissolution of power, a multitude of factions and alliances are emery Under One-party rule, with no one voice Able to impose order. "China needs a system up in More Than Ever," Said Wang Kang, a liberal writer from Chongqing. "Only a Cdn guarantee system Stability." Some Say That the purge of Mr. Bo Was a correction in the Political System, and That The System Has Returned to normal. Purpose Many Others argue Given That The Growing inconsistency at the top, and the diversity and reach of mass media in China, it is inevitable more Politicians That Will adopt Mr
payday advance. Bo's populist methods. Cheng Li, a scholar of Chinese politics, Noted That at the Annual National People's Congress in March, rising Several sixth-generation leaders Gave prominent news media interviews, a form of self-promotion That Was a break from tradition. "There are no clear and steadfast rules," Wu Si Said, chief editor of Yanhuang Chunqiu, a journal of politics and history. "In this confused state, There Is bound to be someone like Bo Xilai Who deploys: various methods to compete to enter the standing committee." Mr. Bo's Policies Helped aussi exposes Another fault line in the China model: Placed on the priority investment projects Economic Growth-through Carried out by state-owned enterprises, with generous loans from state banks. This is the framework Propping up the Chinese economy. Flush with infrastructure projects, Chongqing, with a population of 31 million, Had an économique growth rate of 16.4 percent last year, The Highest of Any municipality. Purpose the municipal government and local state-owned companies $ 160 Accumulated Have one billion in debt, According To estimate year by Victor Shih, Who studies China's political economy. Many Of Those loans might never be repaid. Policy makers pushing for a different model across China, One That subsequently assembled more on Consumer Spending and encouraged private enterprise, Insist That long-Stalled structural Overhauls Must Be restarted. Some see in the opening year coming leadership transition. Aim the biggest hurdle may Be The Fact That Both Have Departing and incoming leaders close ties to state-owned enterprises, Which are keen to preserve the status quo. The hesitancy over the next step is Heightened by China's cooling economy. The growth rate Slowed to 8.1 percent in the first quarter of this year, and Prime Minister Wen Jiabao in March cut the forecast for the year to 7.5 percent. The property market is deflating. The data released on Thursday Showed That is weakening domestic demand and exports are flagging. China warded off the Global Financial Crisis with a $ 580 one billion stimulus package and a loosening of bank lending. Its leaders fall back On That Could government-led, investment-driven approach if the economy cools too much. One Thing Keeping 'em in check, however, is fear of rampant inflation, Which Could Increase social unrest. Discontent Among the poor and middle class is a major source of anxiety for Chinese leaders, yet There are no easy solutions to the widening wealth gap, as long as rapid growth is the priority. The surging number of protests Arising from this gap Is Another stress developed in the China model. Officials Rely Heavily on domestic security force to quell what they call "mass incidents," which one sociologist Sun Liping, Estimated at 180.000 in 2010. In March, the government Announced That It Planned to Spend $ 111 on domestic security one billion this year, a 12 percent Increase over 2011, and $ 5 billion More Than This year's military budget. During The uprising in Wukan last winter, Which Began Because Of what illegal land seizures villagers Called by Local Officials, police units Surrounded the village goal backed off Guangdong Province Officials After Negotiated with the residents. Wang Yang, the provincial party chief, Took credit for the peaceful settlement and Proposed HAS That Be That strategy more Widely adopted Interpretation, in implicit criticism of the year militant tactics Used in "stability maintenance." The Weakness Of Those tactics WAS Exposed ounce again When Mr. Chen, the activist could Under house arrest in 2010, made history nighttime escape from the village guards Who HAD HIM beaten and His Wife. Mr. Chen, who is blind, Fled to the United States Embassy in Beijing. Such brute Could That set off a crisis diplomacy Between the world's superpower and Its rival is rising as a sign Obvious As Any of the deep flaws in China's security methods. "From the FEW times I've embrace engaged with 'em," Mr. Chen Said, "I Know They Have the intention of reforming, of Steady Initiating the rule of law. Purpose I do not know how soon. "
Jonathan Ansfield Contributed reporting, and Bibo Li Yin and Edy Contributed research.
News Analysis: China's Growth Slows, and Its Social Model Shows Limits