Organization of the People’s Republic of China Parallel Hierarchies The Communist Party (CCP) The...

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.