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The Political Elite in China: A Dynamic Balance Between Integration and Differentiation

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The Palgrave Handbook of Political Elites

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.

The author thanks Zach Balin, Yinsheng Li, Ryan McElveen, Agnivesh Mishra, and Lucy Xu for their helpful comments on an earlier version of this article.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. John L. Thornton China Center, The Brookings Institution, Washington, DC, USA

    Cheng Li

Authors
  1. Cheng Li
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Friedrich-Schiller-University, Jena, Germany

    Heinrich Best

  2. University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA

    John Higley

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Li, C. (2018). The Political Elite in China: A Dynamic Balance Between Integration and Differentiation. In: Best, H., Higley, J. (eds) The Palgrave Handbook of Political Elites. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-137-51904-7_20

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