
			From Communism to Democracy

         Gradualism is naturally the most feasible approach to any 
 situation.  Since the fall of the iron curtain, these two Communist 
 power houses have chose to move towards democracy.  China has chosen 
 to take the natural, more gradual approach to democracy where as 
 Russia has chosen the fast-paced, more dangerous approach.  These two 
 nations have chosen to change their economies from a collectivized 
 command one to a market oriented one in order to increase the standard 
 of living in their countries.   As we have seen in recent years, China 
 is booming and becoming more and more successful, while Russia seems 
 like it is regressing back to parochial ways.  It is impossible to 
 compare anything but Russia and China's approaches to change, and the 
 results that incurred.  The two nations have vastly different 
 economies and to compare one economy to another would be illogical.
         China and Russia's approach to change are vastly different, 
 almost like night and day.  China's political and economic policy has 
 always been to do things gradually.  Whereas Russia believed in going 
 through the necessary changes quickly, so that the hardship would in 
 turn pass just as quickly.  In the implementation of their policies, 
 we have seen that China's approach has led to a 29% of growth in their 
 industrial field.  But in comparison, Russia only yielded 15% with 
 their approach.  But one must keep in mind that China has more 
 industrial sectors than does Russia, so their job in improving 
 industry is notably easier than Russia's feat in developing an 
 industry.
         Politically, the two nations have the same policies that they 
 held in their economies.  China believes in gradually letting the 
 people have more access to political freedom.  And again, Russia's 
 policy has been to flood them all at once with these new found 
 freedoms.  Unfortunately Russia's policy hasn't been the most 
 naturally feasible approach again.  Their people have been suddenly 
 bombarded with all of these new found freedoms they have never 
 experience before.  They are like little children let loose in a candy 
 store.  There are all of these new things available to them, and most 
 of the younger generation wants too try everything at once.  All of 
 these citizens experimenting with their new freedoms are creating 
 political chaos.  The Russian citizens don't have time to savor their 
 new freedoms and are just trying to grab them from left and right.  
 For they are probably afraid that if they don't take their freedoms 
 quickly, they will leave as quickly as they came.  On the other hand, 
 China refuses to allow their citizens run the nation.  Instead they 
 are continuing to shun democracy.  They refuse to have democratic 
 elections, pro-democracy demonstrations, and still censor the press.  
 They are still trying to maintain that wall that separates them from 
 the rest of the world.  From a democratic aspect, China's approach is 
 appalling.  China is refusing basic democratic rights that the Western 
 nation citizens take for granted.  China is under the misconception 
 that they can give it's people little crumbs of freedom and keep them 
 from wanting more.  China's leaders think that they can keep 
 controlling that many people for an undetermined amount of time, they 
 don't realize that once the people know about a better life, nothing 
 can stop them from pursuing that life also.  So looking at Russia and 
 China's political policies, it is safe to say that what is good for 
 the economy may not necessarily be good for the people.
         When looking at evolution and physiology, one will also notice 
 that changes naturally happen gradually.  Over time, living organisms 
 change and evolve, but the key ingredient is time.  Sometimes changes 
 take place over thousands of millions of years, as intended by nature. 
  But when examining a change in nature that occurred spontaneously or 
 quickly, one will notice that the change was usually a fluke, or a 
 by-product of the interferences by mankind.  China has taken the 
 natural path, and has gradually succeeded in the short time span that 
 it has be on the market-oriented path.  On the other hand, Russia, who 
 chose to take a fast-paced approach is suffering and has not succeeded 
 in changing.
         Personally, I believe that the Russian people will try to 
 revert back to communism, but will be stopped, either by force or by 
 will.  They people will become so fed up with the hardship they endure 
 and the constant longing for when life was better under the red guard, 
 that they will tr to start a revolt to go back to communism.  But 
 their attempts to go back will be defeated by either force (like 
 Tienamin Square) or by will.  The Russian economy will continue to 
 slowly improve for about 40 to 70 years until they have reached decent 
 standard of living levels.  And after the improvement on the economy, 
 they will realize that democracy will help them, and that there will 
 be an energetic burst to further pursue democracy.  I believe that 
 China will continue to improve their industry and will attempt to 
 maintain an iron grip on their people, but will fail.  The Chinese 
 will revolt against the suppression of their democratic rights and 
 will try another revolt to receive their rights.  If the revolt is big 
 enough, and not isolated to one certain sector, but is dispersed 
 nation-wide, then they will succeed.  But if it is only a small group, 
 then they will fail. 

