Organization of the People’s Republic of China
Parallel Hierarchies• The Communist Party (CCP)• The State (or Government)• The People’s Liberation Army
• Each track is separate, yet the CCP dominates the other two.
Ethel Wood. AP Comparative Government and Politics. (2009)
Principle of Dual Role
• Relationship between party and government.
• Vertical Supervision by the higher level.
• Horizontal Supervision of government by the party.
Chinese Communist Party
• China is a One-Party System.– No other parties can control power.• Others exist at local level with blessing of CCP.
– Through horizontal supervision, the CCP controls government organizations.
• Mass Party System– One party represents the interests of the masses.
Structure of the CCP
General Secretary (1)
Standing Committee (7-9)
Politburo (Approx. 25)
Central Committee (Approx. 350)
National Party Congress (2,000+)
ELECTS OR APPOINTS
DIRECTS/OVERSEE
National Party Congress
• Members chosen from lower level governments.• Meet once every 5 years.• Not important for policy making.• Appoint Central Committee.
Central Committee
• Meet once a year for a week (“plenum”).• Choose Politburo and Standing Committee.• Little influence on policy.
Politburo and Standing Committee
• Democratic Centralism.• Craft China’s policy.• Not accountable to other levels of CCP.• Standing Committee members
are from the Politburo.• Oversee ministries
Politburo and Standing Committee
• “Collective Responsibility”
• Decisions made in secret.
• Lack of transparency.
• TRANSPARENCY– Operate openly.– Citizens are informed
of process.– Politicians are
accountable to citizens.
Chinese Leaders• Mao Zedong (1949-1976)
• Deng Xiaoping (1978-1997)– “Paramount Leader”
• Jiang Zemin (1997-2002)– General Secretary, 1989-2002– President, 1992-2002
• Hu Jintao (2002-2012)– General Secretary & President
• Xi Jinping (2012-?)– General Secretary & President
The Standing Committee
• 7 members: newly appointed in 2012.
• (Down from 9).
• Xi Jinping replaced Hu Jintao as CCP General Secretary and President of the PRC.
The General Secretary
• Formerly “Chairman”• Now, works more collectively with Politburo.• Less powerful since Era of Deng Xiaoping.
Deng Xiaoping• Didn’t have an official leadership position.
• “Paramount Leader”
Chinese Leaders• Mao Zedong (1949-1976)
• Deng Xiaoping (1978-1997)– “Paramount Leader”
• Jiang Zemin (1997-2002)– General Secretary, 1989-2002– President, 1992-2002
• Hu Jintao (2002-2012)– General Secretary & President
• Xi Jinping (2012-?)– General Secretary & President
CHINA’S STANDING COMMITTEE
http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2012/11/14/world/asia/the-new-members-of-chinas-ruling-body.html?ref=changingoftheguard
“China’s Coming Leadership Change Met with a Shrug.”
EXAMPLES OF:LACK OF
TRANSPARENCYLOW POLITICAL
EFFICACYLACK OF POLITICAL
LIBERALIZATION
Party Elders
• Became important in post-Mao Era.• “Retired” party leaders who continue to influence
members of Politburo.
• “GUANXI”– Importance of personal connections/
relationships in China.– Old-Boys Network.– Type of “PATRON-CLIENT NETWORK”
Patron-Client NetworkPATRON
• Provides power/services
• Deng Xiaoping (paramount leader) – Helps career of next
generation of leaders.
CLIENT
• provides loyalty/supportDeng’s Proteges
• Jiang Zemin (1992-2002)• Hu Jintao (2002-2012)
Jiang’s Protégé: Xi Jinping (2012-?)
Recruitment of Party Elites
• Nomenklatura– Similar to USSR
• Guanxi– Connections
“Princelings” Reshape China
• Princeling– Important political and business leaders
(SOEs) that acquired positions through. . . • Family connections• Family background• Important family connection to the
Revolution or Maoist Era politics.
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