| Author (Person) | Doyon, Jérôme, Godement, François |
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| Publisher | European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR) |
| Series Title | China Analysis |
| Series Details | March 2017 |
| Publication Date | March 2017 |
| ISBN | 978-1-911544-05-0 |
| Content Type | Journal | Series | Blog, News |
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On 8 March 2017, the National People’s Congress in China approved Xi Jinping’s position as 'core leader' of the Communist Party, cementing his authority over all organs of power, ahead of his second five-year tenure. This symbolic title demonstrates the special authority Xi has accumulated since he became General Secretary of the party in 2012. In a special issue of ECFR’s China Analysis Discipline and Punish – the Party under Xi, Jérôme Doyon examines Xi Jinping’s key mechanisms for power. Xi, uses tools well known from other Communist leaders to concentrate power in his hands. He made the Party’s internal discipline a centrepiece of his administration. Study sessions, supervision committees and investigations into the loyalty of Party cadres ensure the hierarchy and influence of Party leaders at all levels. At the same time, local Party leaders are given more discretion over recruitments, potentially limiting elite renewal on the long term. Before the expected leadership reshuffle at the 19th Communist Party Congress in October 2017, Xi’s political manoeuvring is being watched closely. Technically, Xi must step down after 2022 due to the customary age limit rule. However, speculation that Xi may try to break with the Party’s retirement convention continues to grow. If Xi wants to guarantee his own power over the system, he risks eroding the Party system: 'Xi’s strategy to strengthen the Leninist structure of ‘democratic centralism’ might prove dangerous for Party survival in the long term', argues Jérôme Doyon, associate fellow at ECFR’s Asia & China programme. 'Risking to gerontocracy, it could become increasingly difficult to attract young potentials'. |
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| Source Link | Link to Main Source http://www.ecfr.eu/page/-/ECFR_China_Analysis_Discipline_and_punish._Party_power_under_Xi.pdf |
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| Countries / Regions | China, Europe |
