The 16th National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party: Institutionalization of Succession Politics

Abstract

Contends that under the third generation leadership, the People's Republic of China's succession politics has been largely institutionalized. The extent of power succession institutionalization is explored from two vantage points: the results of the 16th Party Congress, & the politics that shaped it. Institutionalization can be assessed according to results; nonetheless, without a grasp of the political dynamics that effect these outcomes, it is hard to comprehend the basis of China's power succession. The chapter's first section considers the chief political results of the 16th Party Congress. The next section contextualizes pre-Congress Chinese politics. The final section attends to the question of securing Chinese power succession. K. Coddon.