Decentralized Authoritarianism in China: The Communist Party's Control of Local Elites in the Post-Mao Era - Softcover

Landry, Pierre F.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1107405246 ISBN 13: 9781107405240

Publisher: Cambridge University Press, 2012

Synopsis

China, like many authoritarian regimes, struggles with the tension between the need to foster economic development by empowering local officials and the regime's imperative to control them politically. Landry explores how the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) manages local officials in order to meet these goals and perpetuate an unusually decentralized authoritarian regime. Using unique data collected at the municipal, county, and village level, Landry examines in detail how the promotion mechanisms for local cadres have allowed the CCP to reward officials for the development of their localities without weakening political control. His research shows that the CCP's personnel management system is a key factor in explaining China's enduring authoritarianism and proves convincingly that decentralization and authoritarianism can work hand in hand.

About this title

Review:

'... the book is rich in empirical data and the analysis provides an interesting insight into the CCP's cadre management system.' Europe-Asia Studies

'For anyone interested in understanding China's enduring authoritarianism and the mechanisms that hold the system together and yet create mobility among key political actors, this book is a must-read. It represents a major contribution to the field of China studies, but will also be of interest to neighbouring social science disciplines.' Journal of China Quarterly

Book Description:

This book explores how the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) manages local officials in order to perpetuate an unusually decentralized authoritarian regime. Landry's research shows that the CCP's personnel management system is a key factor in explaining China's enduring authoritarianism and proves convincingly that decentralization and authoritarianism can work hand in hand.

About this edition

• Publisher: Cambridge University Press
• Publication date: 2012
• ISBN 10: 1107405246
• ISBN 13: 9781107405240
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 316