China’s New Normal: Challenges to Old Politics of Economic Reforms

In contrast to the theory of “reform without losers,” the rapid economic development in China has resulted in some serious negative side-effects, such as environmental crisis, local government debts, official corruption, and growing inequality. In dealing with these negative side-effects, the fifth generation of Chinese leaders has tried to take new measures since 2012 to combat governance deficiency and promote governance innovation simultaneously – a “New Normal” in China’s development in the years to come. To understand China’s “New Normal” and related policy changes, this article examines three leading theories of Chinese politics and seeks wisdom of generations while attempts to build a political theory of transition of China.