Mr. Henley outlined the current political structure and the political history inherited by current Chinese leadership during his June 13 seminar. Mr. Henley began his discussion by outlining the Chinese political structure under Mao Zedong and then introduced the current situation as it has evolved since 1978.
Mr. Henley then outlined the basic structure and functions of the interlocking bureaucracies that make up the post-reform Chinese political structure, emphasizing the importance of Party membership as a requirement for political advancement. Mr. Henley went on to discuss the trend toward modernization and embracing current market realities begun under Deng Xiaoping.
Deng encouraged the Chinese to revitalize the Communist Party and to learn from the failed example of the Soviets. Deng’s vision, embodied in his familiar statements to “seek truth from facts” and “to get rich is glorious,” has continued to influence the attitudes of modern party leaders as they seek to reconcile the ideological foundations of the party with the practicality of an increasingly laissez faire economy.
Mr. Henley also suggested the increasing importance of Chinese economic success may have future implications for the legitimacy of the Party; if the economy fails and public support disappears, the regime will not be able to survive. Although the Chinese government has not raised this situation as a possibility, the CCP has taken steps in recent years to bolster nationalism and to build public support. Examples have included a crackdown on corruption and an increase in laws protecting private property. He also suggested the problems raised by state-controlled legal and media outlets are issues that will have to be addressed as China continues to develop.
Finally, Mr. Henley discussed the importance of the next few years, as they will affect the transition of leadership. The next leaders of China will be the first chosen without the oversight of a figure such as Deng Xiaoping. The transition of power to the fifth generation of leadership will be a true test of China’s system of political succession.
Profile of Mr. Henley
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