The adaptive state – understanding political reform in China

At the Conference of the National People's Party (NPP) and the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) in 2012, Premier Wen Jiabao re-emphasised the urgency of political reform to ensure the legitimacy of the party and to provide a strong institutional underpinning to the construction of a harmonious society based on balanced social and economic development. However, no consensus has emerged either in Sino studies or in political journalism as to the trajectory of these reforms. Nor do senior civil servants have a clear understanding of the logic behind China's new wave of political reforms. Most Sino scholars have focused on the question of whether these reforms represent a move towards democratisation or are just another incremental step in the transition process. This investigation mirrors the core differentiation between China's Constitution and Party (CCP) ideology and Western's democratic values. This article provides an understanding or ‘Road Map’ of China's political reforms. It argues that the latest wave of reforms has an adaptive quality which will not threaten the CCP's dominant position rather they will strengthen the state's capacity to govern through the selective devolution of power both to civil society and local representative institutions.