The political elite in China: A dynamic balance between integration and differentiation

Abstract

Studying the composition and circulation of the Chinese political elite enables analysts to transcend the long-standing diagnostic paradigm of the Leninist party-state. It provides a more specific context that can potentially help in understanding China’s future political trajectory. It can also contribute to a broader understanding of the various political transition processes--including their respective advantages and disadvantages--in authoritarian regimes in general. This chapter offers an empirically grounded, comprehensive study focused on the dynamic evolution of Chinese elite politics to enrich the wider academic literature on comparative political systems.