The Chinese capitalism has caused significant social stratification, but failed to produce pro-democratic social classes. Worsening socioeconomic polarization has intensified class confrontation, pushing the new bourgeoisie and middle classes into the arms of authoritarian stability. The increasing dependence on the private sector for sustainable economic growth has compelled the communist state to align itself with the affluent classes in the escalating class warfare. The anti-democratic nature of this alignment has been strengthened by the pro-revolutionary disposition of the lower classes, the underclass in particular. As such, China is being trapped in a vicious circle in which political repressiveness and the revolutionary impulse in society reinforce each other to make a peaceful political opening difficult.