In Search of Legitimacy in Post-revolutionary China: Bringing Ideology and Governance Back In

Arbeitspapier

The contemporary politics of China reflect an ongoing effort by the ruling Chinese Communist Party (CCP) to claim the right to rule in light of the consequences of economic development, international pressures, and historical change. China stands out within the Asian region for the success the regime has achieved in this effort. By focusing on the changes in China's elite discourse during the reform period and particularly during the last decade, this paper aims to elaborate on the relative importance of various sources of legitimacy as they shift over time, as well as on their inherent dilemmas and limitations. There is evidence of an agile, responsive, and creative party effort to relegitimate the postrevolutionary regime through economic performance, nationalism, ideology, culture, governance, and democracy. At the same time, the paper identifies a clear shift in emphasis from an earlier economic-nationalistic approach to a more ideological-institutional approach.

Object Details

• Language: Englisch

References and Relationships

• Bibliographic citation: Series: GIGA Working Papers ; No. 127

Classification and Topics

• Classification: Sozialwissenschaften, Soziologie, Anthropologie
• Subject: regime legitimacy ; China ; Chinese Communist Party ; performance ; nationalism ; ideology ; culturalism ; governance ; democracy

Contributors, Places and Time

• Event: Geistige Schöpfung
• (who): Holbig, Heike ; Gilley, Bruce
• Event: Veröffentlichung
• (who): German Institute of Global and Area Studies (GIGA)
• (where): Hamburg
• (when): 2010

Further information

• Handle: http://hdl.handle.net/10419/47747
• Last update: 10.03.2025, 11:41 AM CET