The Life of the Party
As was true of the last Communist Party Congress five years ago, bona fide farmers and workers will be absent this time around. Instead of addressing worsening anatagonism among social classes, an increasingly tribalized Party will focus on reconciling its intense factional competition.
Nothing illustrates the dichotomy between hopes and reality in China than the hype around the upcoming 17th Chinese Communist Party (CCP) Congress. The CCP calls a “congress” every five years to pick a new Central Committee, choose the nine members who comprise the Standing Committee of the Politburo, China’s supreme ruling council, and thrash out new initiatives and policies. Because it is almost certain that CCP General Secretary, President, and commander-in-chief Hu Jintao and Premier Wen Jiabao will receive second five-year terms, all eyes are on whether Hu will succeed in elevating one or more of his younger allies to the Standing Committee.
Nothing illustrates the dichotomy between hopes and reality in China than the hype around the upcoming 17th Chinese Communist Party (CCP) Congress. The CCP calls a “congress” every five years to pick a new Central Committee, choose the nine members who comprise the Standing Committee of the Politburo, China’s supreme ruling council, and thrash out new initiatives and policies. Because it is almost certain that CCP General Secretary, President, and commander-in-chief Hu Jintao and Premier Wen Jiabao will receive second five-year terms, all eyes are on whether Hu will succeed in elevating one or more of his younger allies to the Standing Committee.