Extending the Open Policy

Abstract

The previous chapter outlines the politics of the Open Policy in the earlier years, especially between 1978 and 1985. It focuses on reformists’ political and economic considerations in their selecting the SEZs in Guangdong and Fujian as well as the reformist strategy of generating competitive liberalization for opening among the other provinces. Two questions naturally arise—how can we account for the opening of all provinces between 1978 and 1994? Do any possible factors underline the pattern of the nationwide opening of the provinces? This chapter addresses these questions. Using the central government’s selection of open areas in the provinces during 1978–1993 as an example, I test the relevancy of possible factors which, according to the existing literature, shaped national policies toward reforms in the provinces.