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/support

Deng’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.