Today's China presents a striking synthesis. The world's second-largest economy operates on largely capitalist principles. The country's cities feature globalized consumer culture. Universities produce internationally competitive research. Yet political control remains tight, internet access is censored, ethnic minorities (particularly Uyghurs) face severe repression, and traditional Confucian themes of social order and respect for authority are invoked to justify the political system. The Chinese case shows that a society can be highly modernized economically while making distinctive choices about politics and culture.

Maria's analytical move: The Chinese case complicates simple narratives. Some commentators predicted that economic modernization would inevitably produce political liberalization, with the rising middle class demanding democracy. China has so far disproved this prediction. Maria should be ready to argue that the relationship between economic modernization and political liberalization is not automatic. Different societies can combine modernization elements in different ways.

V. India and Hindu Nationalism

India's encounter with modernization has been ongoing since British colonial rule (Unit 10.4). Independent India under Nehru (Unit 10.7) embraced secular democracy, scientific socialism, and economic modernization while attempting to preserve a pluralistic society including Hindus, Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, and other religious communities. The persistence and recent strengthening of Hindu nationalist movements illustrates the unit's themes well.