From Eurocentrism to Sinocentrism? Echoes of the Chinese Model of Development in the Non-Western World
The Rest: Journal of Politics and Development, cilt.16, sa.2, ss.229-244, 2026 (Hakemli Dergi)
- Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
- Cilt numarası: 16 Sayı: 2
- Basım Tarihi: 2026
- Dergi Adı: The Rest: Journal of Politics and Development
- Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Academic Search Ultimate (EBSCO), EconLit, Index Islamicus, ERIHPlus, Columbia International Affairs Online (CIAO), Lancaster Index to Defence and International security Literature, Research Papers in Economics (RePEc)
- Sayfa Sayıları: ss.229-244
- Açık Arşiv Koleksiyonu: AVESİS Açık Erişim Koleksiyonu
- Marmara Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet
Özet
For much of the 20th century, Western societies have been the predominant models of development, and their political and socio-economic systems have influenced the paths taken by many developing countries striving to achieve stability and prosperity. As China has emerged as a global economic powerhouse in the early 21st century, it seems to present an alternative model of development to the Western paradigm. This article explores whether China can replace the West as the global model of modernity by examining key components of the Chinese model, its successes and limitations and the broader implications for the global political and economic system. The Chinese model, often referred to as the “Beijing Consensus”, is characterised by several features that differentiate it from the Western liberal model. These include state-led economic planning, limited free-market (a.k.a. state capitalism), and authoritarian governance. China’s annual GDP growth has averaged around 10% for much of the past four decades, transforming it into the world’s second-largest economy. Hundreds of millions of people have been lifted out of poverty, significantly improving average living standards and reducing income inequality. Therefore, it is not surprising that the Chinese model holds significant appeal for many developing countries. Nevertheless, the Chinese model has notable limitations such as environmental problems, demographic challenges, and an authoritarian political system widely criticised for violating human rights. As non-Western countries navigate their developmental trajectories, the Chinese model will continue to serve as both an inspiration and a point of critical engagement. This article analyses the nature of the Chinese model and discusses several developing country cases (i.e. Vietnam, Egypt, Venezuela and Saudi Arabia) that have so far applied various aspects of the Chinese model. It will be argued that while China is undoubtedly reshaping the global order, the complexity and inter-connectedness of the modern world mean that Beijing’s influence will manifest differently from the hegemony of 19th-century Western powers. The future of global politics and economy will likely involve a multipolar distribution of influence, rather than simply evolving from Eurocentric hegemony to a Sinocentric one.