Abstract:

As a distinctive paradigm of modernization among late-developing nations, Chinese modernization embodies both the universal characteristics of global modernization and the unique particularities derived from its late-development attributes relative to early-developing countries. It manifests what may be termed as the late-development effects that are the shared features and inherent contradictions of belated modernization. Chinese characteristics are rooted in the nation’s unique historical trajectory, cultural traditions, and fundamental realities. Late-developing countries typically enjoy initial advantages such as low labor costs and opportunities for technological catch-up through external knowledge transfer. However, they concurrently confront multifaceted challenges, including difficulties in acquiring external resources, developmental dependency, mechanical imitation of foreign models divorced from local conditions, crises of cultural identity, deficiencies in intrinsic motivation to transcend traditional paradigms, and social instability during transitional phases. The Communist Party of China and the Chinese people, starting from their unique basic national conditions, have effectively leveraged their latecomer advantages, successfully addressed the difficulties associated with late development, rapidly narrowed the gap with early starter countries, and successfully advanced and expanded a catch-up and parallel approach to Chinese modernization.

Key words: Chinese Modernization, early development, late development, late-development effects, late-development dilemmas