CCP legitimacy

The attempt to frame an alternative model of democracy highlights a shift in the CCP’s quest for legitimacy.

The CCP is turning to traditional culture to bolster its rule and guard against the spread of Western values.

The party has seized upon the anniversary to bolster its appeal through a blend of narratives that incorporate past glories, present successes, and future greatness.

Thanks to a rapid build-up in its domestic security capacity, the Party has the ability to substitute hard control for economic legitimacy.

Why have Chinese citizens shown even stronger support for Xi Jinping during the COVID-19 crisis?

With the national security law, the CCP created for itself the perfect opportunity to pit China against “foreign hostile forces.”

Amid the coronavirus epidemic, suppression of dissent remains a top priority for the CCP, and the stakes are higher than ever.

There are plenty of differences between Gorbachev’s Soviet Union and Xi’s China. But there are enough similarities that Xi should be worried.

Chinese people largely seem to approve of the central government’s actions and applaud harsh quarantine measures at the local level.

The contours of the Chinese response have remained largely the same from SARS in 2003 to today's coronavirus outbreak.

Amid growing concerns about its governance, China's leadership is attempting to emphasize its own brand of democracy with “Chinese characteristics.”