GLOBALIZATION AND THE CELLULAR TELEPHONE MARKET IN China

China has had a relatively stable political system in place since the Second World War, but upheaval in the political environment has occurred now and again. The Cultural Revolution resulted in the arrest of many leading Chinese artists and educators, and the country remained staunchly loyal--often through coercion--to its long-lived leaders. During the last quarter of the twentieth century, the nation allowed some gradual opening of trade with Western nations, and some capitalist influences were felt within the country. Today, a new Disney theme park is planned for China, and the transfer of Hong Kong from British to Chinese rule was uneventful in its normalcy. Despite these events, China continues to struggle with human rights issues, and it also struggles to marry its communist roots with today's global markets. This research considers the factors affecting globalization in China, and considers a rapidly expanding market--cellular telephones--comparing and contrasting cellular telephones in China with the market in Russia.

FACTORS AFFECTING GLOBALIZATION IN CHINA

The new president of China, whose government will come into power over 2003 and 2004, was announced at the end of 2002. Hu Jintao is considered to represent the "fourth generation" of leadership in the country, but the outgoing leadership is also expected to exercise considerable influence from behind the scenes. Younger Party leade