The Nuts and Bolts of the Chinese Political System Bruce Dickson George Washington University

The Chinese Communist Party 75 million members About 6% of population Criteria for recruitment Education Age Gender Urban bias Most key positions held by CCP members

Central Party Institutions

Central Party Institutions

Central Party Institutions

Central Party Institutions

Central Party Institutions

CCP General Secretary HU Jintao

Political “Generations” in China Mao Zedong Deng Xiaoping Jiang Zemin

Fourth Generation Hu Jintao and Wen Jiabao

Fifth Generation Xi Jinping and Li Keqiang

Chinese Party Institutions

Chinese Political System

Chinese legislators at work

Chinese legislators at work

Chinese legislators at work

Chinese Political System

Prime Minister WEN Jiabao

Chinese Political System

Chinese Political System

CCP’s bid for legitimacy “Performance Legitimacy” Growth

CCP’s bid for legitimacy “Performance Legitimacy” Growth Nationalism Pride in economic accomplishments and growing role in international community Preserve national unity “Century of humiliation”

CCP’s bid for legitimacy “Performance Legitimacy” Growth Nationalism Maintain political order Traditional concern for stability Rising protests around country Concerns about migrant workers

Challenges to CCP’s legitimacy Economic Inequality Corruption Pollution Current economic slowdown Rising aspirations? Nationalism Both elite driven and popular nationalism Order Most protests are direct if unintended consequence of pro-growth policies How to balance growth and stability?

CCP’s Strategy for Survival Coercion A hallmark of any authoritarian regime But costly

CCP’s Strategy for Survival Coercion Co-optation Potential threats New talent needed for policy goals Chinese universities are now main recruitment areas for CCP “Three Represents”

CCP’s Strategy for Survival Coercion Co-optation Limit the flow of information Media Internet Prevent their use for political purposes, but make them available for leisure and especially economic purposes

CCP’s Strategy for Survival Coercion Co-optation Limit the flow of information Raise the cost of collective action CCP monopoly on political organization Protests are local, material demands

Prospects for change Despite the many problems linked to economic development, CCP remains popular Most Chinese optimistic about future No viable alternative Will change come from within the party or from society?