2017 - 2018 返回

Is Economic Liberalism a Threat to Autocrats?

The Role of Ideology in Public Perceptions of the State’s Economic Performance in China

Prof. Reza Hasmath, University of Alberta


Abstract: Autocrats typically seek public support on the basis of economic growth-promoting and redistribution policies, and China is no exception. This talk looks at the Chinese state’s legitimation strategies, viz. its effectiveness in carrying out a variety of economic roles, as well as the fairness of these market interventions. It draws upon a recent study that evaluates individuals’ perceptions of two economic roles of the state: ownership and market regulation. It suggests while citizens view state ownership and regulation in a generally positive light, the state receives overwhelmingly poor marks in competition policy and environmental regulation. In addition, it suggests that economic ideology strongly shapes individual perceptions of the state’s economic performance. Respondents with more economically liberal views were significantly more likely to evaluate the state’s performance across a range of economic functions negatively. The talk further explores the possible political implications that follow from these findings.

The speaker: Reza Hasmath (Ph.D., Cambridge) is a Professor in Political Science at the University of Alberta. Prior to this appointment he was a faculty member at the Universities of Oxford, Melbourne, and Toronto. His recent journal articles appear in the Journal of Social Policy, Voluntas, International Political Science Review, Development Policy Review, Journal of Civil Society, The China Quarterly, Current Sociology, and the Journal of Contemporary China.


Time 12:00 – 13:30, Friday, 9 June 2017

Lunch Fee Free Admission, HK$25.00 for Lunch (Sandwich)*

Venue Yasumoto International Academic Park Room1118, CUHK

Language English



* Due to limited number of seats, reservation of June 9’s seminar is on a first come, first serve basis. To reserve seats, please contact Miss. Yiwei YANG at yiwei.yang@cuhk.edu.hk . Sandwiches can also be arranged. Please state your request in the email by 5 June 2017. Thank you for your cooperation.

Choices of sandwiches: Smoked Salmon /Smoked Turkey (subject to availability)