Faithful Politics Loyalty, Suffering, and Power: Joseph Torigian on Xi Jinping’s Moral Code
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Jul 5, 2025 
Joseph Torigian, an associate professor and expert on authoritarian regimes, dives into the impactful legacy of Xi Jinping's father, Xi Zhongxun, and how personal suffering shaped Xi's moral code. They explore the tension between party loyalty and individual morals within the Chinese Communist Party. Torigian highlights the party's difficult relationship with religious minorities in China, particularly Christianity, and discusses the relevance of history in understanding China's future ambitions on the global stage.
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Loyalty Despite Persecution
- Xi Jinping's father, Xi Zhongxun, embodied the struggle within the Chinese Communist Party showing loyalty despite persecution.
- This story reveals how personal suffering can reinforce commitment to authoritarian party discipline.
Nature of Chinese Authoritarianism
- China's authoritarianism varies over time but is fundamentally designed to enforce party discipline.
- Xi Jinping aims to restore revolutionary enthusiasm to maintain strict top-down control.
Challenges in Authoritarian Leadership
- Officials must manage delicate communication with top leaders, often masking problems to avoid threatening them.
- This creates difficulties in correcting course in a leader-first system with paranoia and suspicion.
