Mere decades ago the Chinese people were some of the most ideological people on earth, fed by constant Communist propaganda and believed firmly in the ideology. Then Deng came to power and he totally reversed that. His reforms not only kick started China's economic boom, they also made the Chinese people some of the most pragmatic, or one could perhaps say, the most materialistic/capitalistic people one earth.
Traditional value systems and morals were pretty much destroyed during the Cultural Revolution, and Communist ideologies bursted as well. Today there's one benchmark and pretty much one benchmark only, to judge someone's success or failure. And that is how much money one makes. There's a popular saying in China, that people "do not mock/laugh at the prostitutes but rather the poor". Everyone is racing to make more money, buy a larger apartment/house, a newer/bigger car, or the latest iPhones.
More importantly, people believed and it is indeed true that it's possible to do so. One can become rich so quickly that everyone wants to be the next billionaire. Look at Ma Yun, self-made top rich guy who was no more than a school teacher. In fact, the former top rich was Wang Jianlin, who was merely a retired soldier, before he started his own business.
My own cousin, who was a high-school dropout, and was barely making ends meet a few years ago, is now driving a Mercedes Benz as he started his own construction company.
Under such an atmosphere, many couldn't care less if they can vote, or what is democracy. It is true many rich people and middle class alike are already demanding more, such a fairer environment, cleaner air and water, more cultural and spiritual pursuits, etc. But these are far from the majority. China still has half her population living in villages and counties as farmers, and even more who only recently moved into mega factories in cities. China still has one of the largest population under poverty line. These people, too, want to become rich and live a comfortable life like many of their peers.
To me, until most Chinese enjoy a relatively high level of material standard of living, and until most Chinese were better educated with at least a college degree, economic pursuits will continue to be the primary objective in their lives, not political ones.
