Chinese modernization gaining momentum

Western modernization inherently flawed

By Li Yuju

Western nations have long dominated the discourse on modernization, leading many scholars to view Westernization as the sole pathway to modernization.

However, amid global transformations, the inherent drawbacks of this approach — characterized by five defining features — are becoming increasingly apparent. First, the global economic growth momentum is weakening. Even before the war between the United States and Iran, the World Bank had projected in 2023 that average annual growth rate through 2030 would be merely around 2.2 percent.

Second, the pitfalls associated with democracy are becoming evident. Political polarization is intensifying, and populism is on the rise. Support for certain populist forces in the European Parliament has increased from around 7 percent in 1998 to over 25 percent in 2018.

Third, social progress is stagnant. Economic development is uneven, societies are deeply fractured, and the wealth gap continues to widen.

French economist Thomas Piketty argues that wealth inequality in developed Western nations has approached levels not seen since the peak of the early 20th century.

Fourth, there is chaos in global governance. Unilateralism and hegemonism are rampant. Institutional reforms, such as those needed for the United Nations, face significant obstacles, while the US has withdrawn from numerous key international organizations, hindering effective global governance.

Fifth, safety risks have been overshadowed by escalating debt risks, and non-traditional crises are occurring more frequently and with greater intensity. For example, in 2025, the average debt level among G7 nations was 123.2 percent, with the highest reaching 250 percent.

Moreover, the majority of developing countries that adopted Western models after World War II have struggled to achieve full modernization, with many experiencing stagnation in their development.

The World Bank has highlighted this issue in two special reports on the "middle-income trap", noting that out of more than 100 countries, only a dozen or so have successfully transitioned from middle-income to high-income status.

Critical reflections on Western modernization by both Chinese and foreign scholars have a long history. In the early 20th century, Liang Qichao, a prominent Chinese thinker, critiqued the limitations of Westernization in his book based on his observations in Europe.

In the 21st century, American scholar Francis Fukuyama discussed the developmental challenges facing Western nations, while Piketty argued that Western free-market economies are inherently unable to fully address issues like inequality.

The limitations of Western modernization provide reference for China's explorations. Chinese modernization presents an alternative pathway to modernity, embodying both the general laws of modernization and its distinctive characteristics.

The Chinese government has clearly articulated an integrated framework of Chinese modernization covering goals, features, pathways, tasks and measures as well as the forces for advancement.

The role of the economy is crucial, as economic progress is the foundation of overall modernization. Advancing Chinese modernization is a systematic endeavor, with economic development serving as the cornerstone and key driver of this process.

Li Yuju is the deputy director of the Research Center on Xi Jinping's Economic Thought.