CEU Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2009
| Author | Lai, Hairong |
|---|---|
| Title | The Causes and Effects of the Development of Semi-Competitive Elections at the Township Level in China since the 1990s |
| Summary | In the mid-1990s, China experienced its first cases of semi-competitive elections for major township officials. Since then, the new election practices have spread to many townships in many counties of a number of provinces. This research suggests that greater tensions between local authorities and residents in economically less-developed regions threaten the career development of local officials, in particular that of county party secretaries, whose top priorities since the late 1970s have changed from ensuring the dictatorship of the proletariat to promoting economic development and maintaining social stability. Meanwhile, the new election practices also produce some effects that the local officials do not support. They decrease, if not eliminate, the monopoly power of the county party secretaries over cadre promotion. They increase the autonomy of the township authorities vis-à-vis county authorities. They fuel confrontations between township mayors and township party secretaries. They help boost articulation and network building among local residents. Finally, they break down ideological taboos regarding the possibility and desirability of competitive elections for state authorities among the political elite. All of these factors are drivers behind forces for more political restructuring in China. |
| Supervisor | Enyedi Zsolt |
| Department | Political Science PhD |
| Full text | https://www.etd.ceu.edu/2009/pphlah01.pdf |
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