Ideological Reform and Political Legitimacy in China: Challenges in the Post-Jiang Era

Abstract

As a Socialist country undergoing rapid social and economic transition, China presents a revealing case study on the role of ideology in the process of institutional change. Based on Douglass North's theory of institutional change and on David Beetham's theory of political legitimation, this paper argues that recent ideological reforms have been a crucial factor in sustaining the legitimacy of Communist party rule. Ideological change is conceived as a path-dependent process which helps to stabilize the social perception of transition and to frame the party's modernization achievements. At the same time, the dominant role of ideology makes the Chinese party-state, despite its economic success, more vulnerable to legitimacy crises compared to other authoritarian regimes.

Predictors of Support for State Social Welfare Provision in Russia and China

“…These involved an end of guaranteed employment in state-owned enterprises, and retrenchment in their work force from 76 million in 1992-1993 to 28 million by 2004 (Naughton 2008, p. 121). In the early 2000s, the new President Hu Jintao proposed the 'scientific development concept' and the notion of a 'harmonious society' as his main contributions to the development of CCP doctrine, signalling the regime's understanding of the need for an ideological palliative (Holbig 2009). 5 Although Hu Jintao may have faced resistance to his new concepts from supporters of the previous president, Jiang Zemin, eventually they were included in the 11th Five Year Plan (2006)(2007)(2008)(2009)(2010)(2011) and in 2007 made part of the CCP constitution at the 17th Party Congress. We would therefore expect that these concepts would have had some influence on Chinese public opinion during the period spanning the financial crisis.…”

The significance of political leaders for social policy expansion in Brazil, China, India and South Africa

“…Even in China, where politics at the top are opaque, the shift to tackling rural poverty and inequality has been attributed to Hu and Wen grappling with their socialist inheritances (Holbig, 2009). In Brazil, Lula's government after 2002 set about demonstrating that it could deliver on their (and his) long-standing promises to the poor by providing even more than the progressive social democrats had during the preceding eight years.…”

Remaking the ccp’s Ideology: Determinants, Progress, and Limits under Hu Jintao

“…It was first formulated by the former CCP general secretary Jiang Zemin in early 2000 (Lu 2002; for a detailed analysis of the concept cf. Holbig 2009). abroad, such as individualism, religious mysticism, pragmatism or nihilism, have led to an unknown degree of ideological pluralization. They are competing, if not clashing with, the "mainstream ideology" and the party's exclusive claim to truth that goes along with it (Lu 2005(Lu , 2006.…”