CAREER STRUCTURE IN THE CHINESE BUREAUCRACY, 1949-65 (CAREER HISTORY, CHINA).

摘要

This work examines the role played by the Chinese civil administrative bureaucracy by looking at the career histories of 2174 of its members who occupied leading positions in 970 agencies from 1949 to 1965. The career data show structural relationships which suggest that the bureaucracy enjoys a greater degree of organizational independence than has been assumed by previous observers.; The analysis begins by outlining the bureaucracy's size and growth during the 1949-65 period, and the rate of personnel turnover among its positions. These characteristics are then related to the different administrative tasks performed by units of administration. Differences in career patterns are observed, and are correlated with organizational differences to suggest how bureaucratic roles may vary. The leadership selection process is analysed by looking at what kinds of organizational and career characteristics are associated with the achievement of high rank and high rates of promotion. Bureaucrats' personal characteristics such as their relations with external groups and organizations are examined to determine whether they have an effect on career variables such as the kind of unit they work for and their chances for advancement in rank. Bureaucrats' associations with organizations active during the revolutionary period and with important historical events are related to their rank and promotion to see what effect political associations have on their careers.; Major findings are that growth of the bureaucracy during the period and the turnover of personnel allowed a reasonable level of career opportunity for its members; that rank and promotion were related to administratively relevant factors like the breadth of a person's bureaucratic experience rather than to politically salient characteristics such as his geographic or historical associations in the communist movement; and that the bureaucracy was successful in resisting pressures from the political leadership that challenged its institutional autonomy.