Degree

BS (Social Sciences & Liberal Arts)

Faculty / School

School of Economics and Social Sciences (SESS)

Department

Department of Social Sciences & Liberal Arts

Date of Award

Summer 2025

Date of Submission

2025-07-06

Advisor

Dr. Bilal Munshi, Assistant Professor, Department of Social Sciences

Project Type

SSLA Culminating Experience

Access Type

Restricted Access

Keywords

China, authoritarian resilience, economic development

Abstract

Over the past four decades, China has achieved unprecedented economic growth while maintaining a centralized authoritarian political framework. This research investigates how the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has sustained long-term development without democratizing, challenging conventional theories that associate economic modernization with political liberalization. Set against the backdrop of global debates on governance and development, the study critically examines the institutional mechanisms and political strategies that underpin the CCP’s resilience.

The key themes explored include centralized governance, bureaucratic control, strategic adaptability, and the state’s evolving role in market regulation. Drawing on Authoritarian Resilience Theory, the study employs a qualitative methodology that analyzes official party documents, Five-Year Plans, speeches by CCP leadership, and policy outcomes from 1980 to 2020. A case-based comparative analysis is also used to trace shifts in governance and economic planning across successive leadership transitions.

This thesis argues that the CCP’s ability to maintain elite cohesion, suppress dissent, and implement long-term economic strategies has been crucial to China's sustained development. The findings challenge liberal-democratic assumptions by demonstrating that under specific institutional conditions, centralized authoritarian systems can achieve stability and growth. By contributing to literature on political development and authoritarian governance, the research provides a relevant framework for understanding China’s global rise and offers insights into alternative models of state-led modernization.

Pages

71

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