Democratic experimentation under party dictatorship: A study of China's political reforms, 1979-1989.

摘要

This study focuses upon the institutional aspects of China's democratic reform in the 1980s. It explores why, under Communist one-party rule, Marxist "democratization" could significantly alter the power structure to make real popular influence on government possible. Based on an analysis of the conflict of interests and the complex interaction between the Party leadership, cadres and the subordinate population, this study explains the achievements, limitations and consequences of the democratic reform.; The dissertation reveals a self-promoting logic inherent in Marxist "democratization." The central leadership was compelled to initiate modest political reform under heavy social pressure. By institutionalizing popular sharing of power, this reform aimed to rationalize policy-making mechanisms and supervise the conduct of Party cadres. But resistance from Party organizations and cadres against the reform efforts made the democratic process impossible. In order to enforce reformist policies and solve the legitimacy crisis of the regime, the CCP leaders aligned with the citizens to strip Party cadres of their executive power and reduce their policy-making power. As a result, the power of the legislature at all levels, whose members were elected in a relatively democratic way, was greatly expanded. However, Party leaders' alignment with the citizens was contingent on the latter's political attitudes. Distrustful of popular spontaneity, Party leaders had to allow the cadres to retain substantial power so that mass participation would not go beyond prescribed political and ideological limits. Once social demands arose that Party leaders perceived as politically threatening, they reverted to relying upon Party cadres to reassert party dictatorship. This opportunistic dealignment and realignment on the part of the leadership indicate the fundamental limitation and dilemma of Marxist "democratization."; This study is based on my fieldwork in China and a variety of primary sources. It applies the theory and methodology of comparative politics to the concrete analysis of the Chinese case.