Limits for Continuity and Change in Political Transformations

Abstract

In the past, both the PRC and the RC in Taiwan used to have a non-transparent system of political access. Taiwan, however, succeeded in establishing a full-fledged multi-party political system. The PRC’s political regime prefers competition at intra-party elections and, lately, a strengthening of the principle of meritocracy. That makes a Chinese political modernization model a very specific one: it ensured internal political competition at intra-party-level, permits a limited political competition in other political segments of the society but only under the umbrella of “one-and-a-half” party system that presupposes the dominant role of the Communist party. So, the political access in this system is limited and defined by the membership in the CPC, but at the same time is broadening generally within the CPC while the system ensured an even broader social access to economic activities of various kind. This political model ensured successful economic development and military modernization. The development of Chinese political institutions once again has reached a critical stage. However, at the heart of this process now is not only the need to further strengthen competitiveness and work out a new political and economic model, but also the fact that the PRC has now become a global player, preparing a new generation of leaders capable of addressing these challenges.