HR: https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/26/world/asia/china-xi-jinping-authoritarianism.html
https://www.cfr.org/blog/china-likely-enter-another-long-period-severe-dictatorship
Yu (2014) and Vogel readings
Last week came potentially the biggest singular shakeup in the geopolitical landscape perhaps since 9/11 and only continues to reaffirm that a slow-approaching death may be looming on the liberal democratic order that has prevailed since the end of WWII. The dramatic shake up is the abolition of term limits on Xi Jinping, the head of state of the People’s Republic of China, effectively making him ruler for life if he so chooses. On the world stage this is yet another blow to the liberal world order as well as resounding roundhouse kick to the western idea that China could, given enough time, liberalize and enter the world stage as a true member and believer in the institutions that currently dominate it. China has in one day upended that notion and with it perhaps (as Xi says directly) puts the Chinese system of authoritarianism in direct competition with western democracy for other developing states to follow. The move also reaffirms the massive push of the world towards authoritarianism and nationalism; with several strategic states already embracing the ideology through their heads of state, namely Erdogan in Turkey, Putin in Russia, cracks are appearing across Europe with the rise of the right-wing in Hungary, Poland, Italy, Greece, even the UK as well as the USA with the election of Trump. The lack of outcry from the west leaves me personally scratching my head and deeply concerned with the seeming voluntary American abandonment of the global system we built and fought for.
But what does this mean for China directly? First and foremost, it gives Xi Jinping more power then has ever been enjoyed by one individual since Mao in the PRC and shows a denouncing of the legitimizing factor term limits have for a government, especially one for a country attempting to gain recognition in the global community. The sharp break from norms established by Deng and reinforced since then must certainly be a cause for alarm among Chinese elites. Vogel’s work on Deng’s leadership style, pushing for moderation and building policy with consideration of public support, seems to paint a picture of a China aiming more in the line with what it is trying to escape from in the Mao era. To sum up best, the Council on Foreign Relations described the policy switch as such: “There must be great grumbling and concern among the country’s elite and educated, especially since the same Party “proposals” that have eliminated term limits have also confirmed the establishment of the National Supervisory Commission that will make the regime more repressive and more free of legal restraints than ever, imposing what amounts to “the Inquisition with Chinese characteristics.”