> > The question is whether China can be regarded as an independent/sovereign
> > nation. Moreover, China is not even a liberal democracy. It's hard to see
> how China can dominate the world, if the Chinese state can not hegemonise
> the Chinese society.
> Why would you question whether China is an independent state?
Where all marxist theories of imperialism and neocolonialism have gone? What are the defining characteristics of independent nations-states in the 21 century? Perhaps the marxist theories do not apply to "marxist-leninist" states?
> So it is not, as you say, a liberal democracy, but not everyone is in
> agreement that economic progress is only possible under this form of
> government.
I never said or implied that economic development is only possible under a liberal democratic form of government. But there is no progress, whether economic or political, in a linear fashion. Uneven and combined development is the rule.
Ulhas