Table of Contents

Introduction; Part I. Theories, Culture, History, and Instititions: 1. Research models, leadership politics, and succession; 2. Structural context in Chinese elite politics; 3. Traditional political thought and imperial legacy; 4. Ideology, organization, and party norms; Part II. The Politics and Practice of the 'Core' Leader: 5. Political groupings: commonalities, factions, and cliques; 6. Politics of the 'core' leader from Mao to XI; 7. The 'core' leader and elite politics in practice; Conclusion.

Promotional Information

This is the first full-length scholarly study of the Chinese 'core' leader and his role in the Chinese Communist Party's elite politics.

About the Author

Xuezhi Guo is a Professor and Chair of the Political Science Department at Guilford College, North Carolina. He is the author of The Ideal Chinese Political Leader: A Historical and Cultural Perspective (2001) and China's Security State: Philosophy, Evolution, and Politics (Cambridge, 2012).

Reviews

'This insightful and incisive volume by Xuezhi Guo (Guilford College) seeks to examine the role of the Chinese Communist Party's chief, the mechanism in regulating the interaction between the 'core' leader and the rest of the party elite, dynamics of the changes, and the potential implications.' S. K. Ma, Choice

'Xuezhi Guo's new book is an exceptionally valuable addition to the literature on elite politics in China. It presents readers with an insightful analysis of political leadership by way of an eclectic approach that represents the best of theoretically informed area studies research. Guo's study is engaging, dispassionate, and convincing … Xuezhi Guo's meticulous and thought-provoking work remains a key reference for years to come.' Robert Dayley, Pacific Affairs

'… the book is particularly useful for scholars, students and professionals who are interested in who's who and their factional affiliation in Chinese politics.' Chi Zhang, Democratization