Pekingology
Fragmented Authoritarianism in Xi's China
Dec 12, 2024
Jessica Teets, a Professor at Middlebury College and Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Chinese Political Science, dives into the complexities of China's governance under Xi Jinping. She discusses the concept of fragmented authoritarianism and its implications for local governance. Teets highlights the central government's increasing control, the struggles local officials face, and the impacts of digitization. The conversation also touches on how Xi's centralization efforts affect policymaking and what this means for China's future amid ongoing reforms.
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Quick takeaways
- Fragmented authoritarianism in China allows local officials significant discretion, leading to varied regional responses and policy implementation challenges.
- Xi Jinping's centralization efforts aim to enhance state capacity through strict performance metrics, potentially diminishing local adaptation and engagement in governance.
Deep dives
Understanding Governance in China
China's governance, particularly in the context of fragmented authoritarianism, is crucial for comprehending the state's operational dynamics. Individuals often wonder how citizens can influence governmental decisions in an authoritarian setting. The concept highlights a significant 'black box' in governance where local officials wield substantial discretion, leading to varied policy implementation across different regions. This dynamic interaction between central directives from Beijing and local responses illustrates the complexity of governance in a rapidly changing political landscape.
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