Skip to main content

Reclaiming Legitimacy in Postrevolutionary China: Bringing Ideology and Governance Back In

  • Chapter

Part of the book series: Palgrave Series on Asian Governance ((PSAG))

Abstract

The contemporary politics of China reflects an ongoing effort by the ruling Chinese Communist Party (CCP) to reclaim the right to rule in light of the consequences of economic development, international pressures, and historical change. China stands out within the Asian region for the relative success the regime has achieved in that effort. While the CCP does face challenges to its legitimacy, those challenges are for the most part defeated by regime claims. In some respects, China is a classically Asian case: a democratic opposition struggles against the rational-legal and economic performance claims of the regime.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.

Buying options

Chapter
USD   29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD   39.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD   54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD   54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Learn about institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  • Ai, Jiawen. 2008. “The Refunctioning of Confucianism: The Mainland Chinese Intellectual Response to Confucianism since the 1980s.” Issues and Studies 44: 29–78.

    Google Scholar 

  • Barmé, Geremie R. 1995. “To Screw Foreigners Is Patriotic: China’s AvantGarde Nationalists.” The China Journal 34: 209–234.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Beetham, David. 1991. The Legitimation of Power. Houndsmills: Macmillan.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • —. 2001. “Political Legitimacy.” In The Blackwell Companion to Political Sociology, edited by Kate Nash and Alan Scott, 107–116. Malden, MA: Blackwell.

    Google Scholar 

  • Billioud, Sebastien. 2007. “Confucianism, ‘Cultural Tradition’ and Official Discourses in China at the Start of the New Century.” China Perspectives 3: 50–65.

    Google Scholar 

  • Billioud, Sebastien, and Joel Thoraval. 2007. “Jiaohua: The Confucian Revival in China as an Educative Project.” China Perspectives 4: 4–21.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • —. 2008. “The Contemporary Revival of Confucianism: Anshen liming or the Religious Dimension of Confucianism.” China Perspectives 3: 88–106.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brown, Jeremy. 2007. “From Resisting Communists to Resisting America.” In Dilemmas of Victory: The Early Years of the People’s Republic of China, edited by J. Brown and P. Pickowicz, 105–129. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Chen, Jie. 2004. Popular Political Support in Urban China. Washington, D.C.: Woodrow Wilson Center Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Deng, Xiaoping. 1989. “Speech to Cadres and Soldiers of the Beijing Martial Law Corps, Beijing.” June 9. http://web.peopledaily.com.cn/deng/.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dirlik, Arif. 1995. “Confucius in the Borderlands: Global Capitalism and the Reinvention of Confucianism.” Boundary 2 2: 229–273.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Eastman, Lloyd E. 1984. Seeds of Destruction: Nationalist China in War and Revolution, 1937–1949. Stanford: Stanford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fang, Keli. 1991. “Makesizhuyi yu Zhongguo chuantong wenhua de guanxi” [Marxism and Its Relations with the Chinese Traditional Culture]. In Zhongguo Makesizhuyi zhexue qishi nian [Seventy Years of Chinese Marxist Philosophy], edited by Dezhi Zhao and Wang Benhao, 62–63. Shenyang: Liaoning daxue chubanshe.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fang, Guogen, and Luo Benqi. 2007. “Rujia sixiang, wenhua jiaoliu yu goujian hexie shehui” [Confucian Thinking, Cultural Exchange, and Constructing a Harmonious Society]. Shehuikexue zhanxian [Social Science Front] 2: 328–330.

    Google Scholar 

  • Friedman, Edward. 2008. “Raising Sheep on Wolf Milk: The Politics and Dangers of Misremembering the Past in China.” Totalitarian Movements and Political Religions 9: 389–409.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gilley, Bruce. 2006. “The Meaning and Measure of State Legitimacy: Results for 72 Countries.” European Journal of Political Research 45: 499–525.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gilley, Bruce, and Heike Holbig. 2009. “The Debate on Party Legitimacy in China: A Mixed Quantitative/Qualitative Analysis.” Journal of Contemporary China 18: 339–359.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gore, Lance L. P. 2003.“Rethinking the Collapse of Communism: The Role of Ideology Then and Now.” In Damage Control. The Chinese Communist Party in the Jiang Zemin Era, edited by Gungwu Wang and Zheng Yongnian, 27–63. Singapore: Eastern Universities Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gries, Peter Hayes. 2004. China’s New Nationalism: Pride, Politics and Diplomacy. Berkeley, CA: University of California Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Holbig, Heike. 2009. “Ideological Reform and Political Legitimacy in China: Challenges in the Post-Jiang Era.” In Regime Legitimacy in Contemporary China. Institutional Change and Stability, edited by Schubert Gunter and Thomas Heberer, 13–34. London: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Inglehart, Ronald, and Christian Welzel. 2005. Modernization, Cultural Change, and Democracy: The Human Development Sequence. Cambridge; New York: Cambridge University Press.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Jia, Qingguo. 2005. “Disrespect and Distrust: The External Origins of Contemporary Chinese Nationalism.” Journal of Contemporary China 14: 11–21.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jiang, Qing. 1989. “Zhongguo dalu fuxing Ruxue de xianshi yiyi jiqi mianlin de wenti” (The Practical Implications and Problems of Reviving Confucianism in Mainland China] (2 Parts). Ehu [Legein Society] 170: 29–38; 171: 22–37.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kang, Xiaoguang. 2005. Ren zheng [Rule by Morality]. Singapore: Bafang Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • —. 2007. “Ruan liliang jianshe yu Rujia wenhua fuxing” [The Construction of Soft Power and the Revival of Confucian Culture]. Tianya [Frontiers] 1: 32–38.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kennedy, John James. 2009. “Legitimacy with Chinese Characteristics: ‘Two Increases, One Reduction’.” Journal of Contemporary China 18: 391–395.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Laliberté, André, and Marc Lanteigne, eds. 2008. The Chinese Party-State in the 21st Century. Adaptation and the Reinvention of legitimacy. London and New York: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lewis, John W., and Litai Xue. 2003. “Social Change and Political Reform in China: Meeting the Challenge of Success.” China Quarterly 176: 926–942.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Li, Lianjiang. 2008. “Political Trust and Petitioning in the Chinese Countryside.” Comparative Politics 40: 209–226.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Link, Perry. 2008. “A Short Anatomy of Chinese Nationalism Today, Testimony before the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission: Access to Information and Media Control in the People’s Republic of China.” June 18, http://www.uscc.gov/hearings/2008hearings/transcripts/08_06_18trans/link.pdf.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lu, Ailin. 2005. “Shehui zhuanxing qi Zhongguo Gongchandang zhi-zheng hefaxing ziyuan de weihu yu chonggao” [The Maintenance and Reconstruction of the Resources of CCP’s Ruling Legitimacy during Social Transformation]. Lilun yu Gaige [Theory and Reform] 6: 56–60.

    Google Scholar 

  • —. 2006. “Xin shiqi weihu yu peiyu dang de hefaxing ziyuan de lujing xuanze” [The Strategic Choice to Maintain and Cultivate the Legitimacy Resources of the CCP in the New Era]. Qiushi [Seeking Truth] 1: 18–21.

    Google Scholar 

  • Makeham, John. 2008. Lost Soul: ‘Confucianism’ in Contemporary Chinese Academic Discourse. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Markus, Maria. 1982. “Overt and Covert Modes of Legitimation in East European Societies.” In Political Legitimation in Communist States, edited by T.H. Rigbyand Ferenc Fehér, 82–93. London & Basingstoke: Macmillan.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Nathan, Andrew. 2003. “Authoritarian Resilience.” Journal of Democracy 14: 6–17.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nie, Pingping and Hu Qizhu. 2008. “Zhizheng dang hefaxing the yishixingtai shiyu fenxi” [Analysis of the Ruling Party’s Legitimacy from the Perspective of Ideology]. Qiushi [Seeking Truth] 2: 19–22.

    Google Scholar 

  • OECD. 2005. Governance in China. Paris: Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Pan, Philip P. 2008. Out of Mao’s Shadow: The Struggle for the Soul of a New China. New York: Simon & Schuster.

    Google Scholar 

  • Peterson, Glen. 2008. “To Be or Not to Be a Refugee: The International Politics of the Hong Kong Refugee Crisis, 1949–55.” Journal of Imperial & Commonwealth History 36: 171–195.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Renmin Ribao [People’s Daily]. 2003. “Zai ‘san ge daibiao’ zhongyao sixiang lilun yantaohui shang de jianghua” [Speech Delivered at the Theory Symposium on the Important Thought of “Three Represents”]. July 2, 1–2.

    Google Scholar 

  • —. 2004. “Chongfen renshi kexue fazhanguan de zhidao yiyi—Lun shuli he luoshi kexue fazhanguan” [Fully Acknowledging the Guiding Significance of the Scientific Outlook on Development—On the Establishment and Implementation of the Scientific Outlook on Development]. March 22, 1–2.

    Google Scholar 

  • —. 2005a. “Zhonggong zhongyang guanyu zai quandang kaizhan yi shijian ‘san ge daibiao’ zhongyao sixiang wei zhuyao neirong de baochi gongchandangyuan xianjinxing jiaoyu huodong de yijian” [Opinions of the CCP Central Committee on Launching the Party-Wide Education Campaign to Preserve the Progressiveness of Communist Party Members by Implementing the Important Thought of the ‘Three Represents’ as Its Core Content]. January 10, 1–2.

    Google Scholar 

  • —. 2005c. “Hu Jintao zai shengbuji zhuyao lingdao ganbu tigao goujian shehuizhuyi hexie shehui nengli zhuanti yantaoban de jianghua” [Hu Jintao’s Speech at the Special Study Course for Leading Cadres at the Ministerial and Provincial Level on Raising the Capacity to Build a Harmonious Socialist Society]. June 27, 1–2.

    Google Scholar 

  • Roskin, Michael. 2009. Countries and Concepts: Politics, Geography, Culture. New York: Pearson/Longman.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schubert, Gunter. 2008. “One-Party Rule and the Question of Legitimacy in Contemporary China: Preliminary Thoughts on Setting Up a New Research Agenda.” Journal of Contemporary China 17: 191–204.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shambaugh, David L. 2008. China’s Communist Party: Atrophy and Adaptation. Berkeley: University of California Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shi, Tianjian. 2001. “Cultural Values and Political Trust: A Comparison of the People’s Republic of China and Taiwan.” Comparative Politics 33: 401–419.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • —. 2008. “China: Democratic Values Supporting an Authoritarian System.” In How East Asians View Democracy, edited by Yun-han Chu, Larry Diamond, Andrew J. Nathan, and Doh Chull Shin, 209–237. New York: Columbia University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Song, Qiang. 2009. “Interview.” Beijing Review 52: 23.

    Google Scholar 

  • Song, Xiaojun, Xiaodong Wang, Jisu Huang, Qiang Song, and Yang Liu. 2009. Zhongguo bu gaoxing. Da shidai, da mubiao ji women de neiyou waihuan [Unhappy China. The Great Time, Grand Vision and Our Challenges]. Beijing: Kong Hong Book.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sun, Xiaowei, and Yan Sun. 2003. “Yishixingtai: Zhongguo Gongchandang zhengzhi quanwei hefaxing rentong de sixiang jichu” [Ideology: The Ideological Fundament of Identification with the Legitimacy of the CCP’s Political Authority]. Daizong Xuekan [Journal of Daizong] 7: 5–6.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sun, Yan. 1995. The Chinese Reassessment of Socialism, 1976–1992. Princeton: Princeton University Press.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Unger, Jonathan. 1996. Chinese Nationalism. New York: East Gate.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wan, Jun. 2003. “Xin shiji Zhongguo Gongchandang chuantong hefaxing ziyuan mianlin de tiaozhan” [Challenges for the Traditional Resources of Legitimacy of the CCP in the New Century]. Kexue Shehuizhuyi [Scientific Socialism] 3: 30–33.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang, Gungwu. 2008. China and the New International Order. New York: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang, Zhengxu. 2005. “Political Trust in China: Forms and Causes.” In Legitimacy: Ambiguities of Political Success of Failure in East and Southeast Asia, edited by L. White, 113–139. Singapore: World Scientific.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Xia, Defeng. 2008. “Zhongguo gongchandang zhizheng hefaxingde lujing fenxi” [An Analysis of the Routes to Governing Legitimacy for the CCP]. Shiji Qiao [Century Bridge] 6: 6–9.

    Google Scholar 

  • Xia, Jinmei. 2008. “Gongming youxu zhengzhi canyu dui dang zhizheng hefaxingde yingxiang” [The Effects of Orderly Political Participation on the Party’s Governing Legitimacy]. Journal of Zhengzhou Institute of Aeronautical Industry Management [Social Sciences Edition] 27: 203–205.

    Google Scholar 

  • Xin, Yan. 2005. “Tichu ‘zhengzhi hefaxing’ de wenti jiujing juyou hezhong zhengzhi hanyi?” [What Are the Political Implications in Raising the Question about ‘Political Legitimacy’?]. Dangshi wenhui [Abstracts of CCP History Studies] 10: 52–53.

    Google Scholar 

  • Yang, Dali L. 2004. Remaking the Chinese Leviathan: Market Transition and the Politics of Governance in China. Stanford: Stanford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zha, Jianying. 2007. “Enemy of the State.” The New Yorker, April 23.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhang, Xuejuan. 2009. “Chongtu dui zhengzhi hefaxingde yingxiang zuoyong shenxi” [The Effects and Role of Conflicts on Political Legitimacy]. Shandong xingzheng xueyuan shandong sheng jingji guanli ganbu xueyuan xuebao [Journal of the Shandong Administration Institute and the Shandong Economic Management Cadres Institute] 1: 19–23.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhao Suisheng. 2004. A Nation-State by Construction. Dynamics of Modern Chinese Nationalism. Stanford: Stanford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhou, Shangwen. 2006. Hefaxing shiye xia de Sulian zhengzhi [Soviet Politics from the Perspective of Legitimacy]. Shanghai: Shanghai People’s Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhou, Xincheng. 2008. “Yixie ren guchui de ‘pushi jiazhi’ shizhi shang jiu shi Xifang de jiazhi” [The ‘Universal Values’ Advocated by Some People Are Actually Western Values]. Guangming Ribao, September 16, http://theory.people.com.cn/GB/49150/49152/8041823.html.

  • Zhu, Lingjun. 2006. Yi zhi yu chong tu: zheng dang yu qun zhong guan xi de zai si kao [Consensus and Conflict: Thought on Relations between the People and the Ruling Party]. Beijing, China: People’s Press.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Authors

Editor information

John Kane Hui-Chieh Loy Haig Patapan

Copyright information

© 2011 John Kane, Hui-Chieh Loy, and Haig Patapan

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Holbig, H. (2011). Reclaiming Legitimacy in Postrevolutionary China: Bringing Ideology and Governance Back In. In: Kane, J., Loy, HC., Patapan, H. (eds) Political Legitimacy in Asia. Palgrave Series on Asian Governance. Palgrave Macmillan, New York. https://doi.org/10.1057/9781137001474_2

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics