Governance of a Party-state - Corruption, Law, and the Modus Operandi of the Chinese Communist Party

Ling Li unveils the often-hidden inner workings of China's Party-state. The Chinese Communist Party has crafted and relied on an integrated regulatory system, where politics and law are fused, to govern both its internal operations and its relations with the state. Drawing on two decades of in-depth research, Li delves into the 'black box' of decision-making in the Party-state, analyzing the motivations and strategies that drive individual and institutional choices in corruption, anti-corruption investigations, and power struggles at the Politburo. This insightful book reveals the critical role of rules and institution-building within the Party, illuminates the complex relationship between corruption and regime stability, and captures the evolving dynamics of Party-state relations. A must-read for students, academics, business leaders, and policymakers alike, this book is an indispensable guide for anyone seeking a deeper understanding of law, politics, and governance in China and its global implications.

List of contents

Introduction; Part I. Corruption, Law and Politics: 1. Corruption in China's courts; 2. Normalization of political prerogative in courts; 3. 'Marriage' of Guanxi and corruption; 4. Survival of corruption under court reforms; Part II. Modus Operandi of the Party: 5. Evolution of the Party's disciplinary system; 6. Post-2012 anti-corruption playbook; 7. Power struggles at the Politburo; Part III. Conclusion: 8. Governance of a Party-state; Appendices; List of References; Index.

About the author

Ling Li teaches China Studies at the University of Vienna, specializing in Chinese law and politics. She holds a doctorate in law from Leiden University and has published extensively on corruption, anti-corruption, and the political-legal system of the People's Republic of China (PRC).

Product details

• Authors: Li Ling
• Publisher: Cambridge Academic
• Languages: English
• Product format: Hardback
• Released: 31.10.2025
• EAN: 9781009275002
• ISBN: 978-1-009-27500-2
• Illustrations: Worked examples or Exercises
• Subjects: Social sciences, law, business > Law > Public law, administrative procedural law, constitutional procedural law; China, LAW / Constitutional, Political corruption, Comparative Politics, Legal History, Political structures: totalitarianism and dictatorship, Criminal justice law, Constitution: government & the state, Political structures: totalitarianism & dictatorship, Government powers, Corruption in politics, government and society, Constitution: government and the state, Constitutional & administrative law, History of constitution and comparative constitutional law, Criminal law: corruption