Case Study: People's Republic of China

What were key events leading from the Qing Dynasty to the PRC?

• Century of Humiliation: 1st Opium War (1839), Taiping Rebellion (1850-1864), Boxer Rebellion (1900).

• 1911 Revolution: Overthrows Qing Dynasty, establishes the Republic of China.

• May Fourth Movement (1919): Rise of nationalism and anti-imperialism.

• CCP Founded (1921): Chinese Communist Party emerges.

• Chinese Civil War (1945-1949): Ends with Communist victory, PRC established in 1949.

What is the structure of the Chinese government?

• Parallel Structure: Party controls the state through mirrored institutions.

• Executive Branch:

  • President (Xi Jinping): Usually also the General Secretary of the CCP.

  • Premier (Li Qiang): Runs the government’s daily affairs.

• Judicial System: Weak, no official criminal code until 1978.

How does the CCP maintain control over the state?

• Corporatism: Government-backed NGOs control civil society.

• Performance Legitimacy: CCP justifies rule by delivering economic growth.

• Limited Protest: Historically tolerated, but now often suppressed.

What are key factors explaining the survival of the PRC and collapse of the USSR?

• Institutional Inertia: Cultural Revolution (1966-76) wiped out entrenched elites, making reform easier.

• Leadership Difference:

  • Deng Xiaoping (PRC): Respected elite, had authority to implement reforms.

  • Gorbachev (USSR): Young, lacked deep political backing.

• Economic Crisis:

  • China: Desperate need for reform post-Cultural Revolution.

  • USSR: Economic problems less severe, but resisted change.

• Foreign Relations:

  • China: Opened to trade with the West (Nixon visits in 1972).

  • USSR: Maintained Cold War tensions with Western nations.

What is Walder’s main argument?

The Cultural Revolution ironically strengthened the PRC’s ability to reform without collapsing

What are the key variables in Walder’s analysis?

• Dependent Variable: Regime stability during reform.

• Independent Variables:

  1. Institutional destruction from the Cultural Revolution.

  2. Strong leader (Deng Xiaoping) with elite backing.

  3. Severe economic issues requiring urgent reform.

  4. Shift toward economic partnerships with Western powers.

What are the major implications?

• Regime survival depends on historical circumstances, not just political structure.

• Elite cooperation is crucial for reform without regime collapse.

• China’s path was unique due to its pre-reform turmoil, unlike the USSR.