Political Institutionalization as Political Development in China

Contrary to many doubts, the institutionalization of political leadership survived the succession process in China between 2002 and 2003. In 2004, Jiang Zemin attempted to override the institutionalized political leadership but was unsuccessful. These episodes demonstrate the level of political inst...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The Journal of contemporary China 2010-06, Vol.19 (65), p.559-571
Main Author: Lee, Hochul
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
China
Chinese
Communist parties
Economic Development
Economic stabilization
Elites
Experiments
Heads of state
Inheritance and succession
Institutions
Jiang Zemin
Leadership
Legitimacy
Peoples Republic of China
Political analysis
Political conditions
Political Development
Political Institutions
Political leadership
Political participation
Political parties
Political power
Politics
Rules and practice
Stability
Values
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Summary:Contrary to many doubts, the institutionalization of political leadership survived the succession process in China between 2002 and 2003. In 2004, Jiang Zemin attempted to override the institutionalized political leadership but was unsuccessful. These episodes demonstrate the level of political institutionalization that has been steadily undertaken since the reform and opening of China. After theoretically defining institutionalization as the first significant stage of political development, this article examines the current progress in political institutionalization at two distinct levels: external and internal. This article argues that the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) leadership intended to establish political stability directly and facilitate economic development indirectly under the goal of sustaining the political legitimacy of the CCP's rule of China. Finally, this article examines whether China would follow the ideal sequence of political development, i.e. institutionalization leading to participation leading to contestation. Though China has achieved considerable political institutionalization and conducted many experiments of expanding political participation, public contestation is still confined solely to within the party. Thus, it remains to be seen whether or not China will follow the ideal sequence.
ISSN:1067-0564
1469-9400
DOI:10.1080/10670561003666160