ABSTRACT

One of the major issues of concern in contemporary China as well as in the international community is the direction and manner in which the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) will evolve. The CCP, with its 68 million members, is the largest ruling party in the world. Western scholars and policy makers have closely watched whether the party will wither away as a result of drastic socio-economic changes within China and pressures from abroad. Will the party be able to accommodate socio-economic changes in order to stay relevant? Will it be able to govern an increasingly affluent yet divided Chinese society? Or will it ultimately be able to establish a democratic governance structure for China? The success of the CCP’s endeavor also goes beyond China’s national boundary. With its economic rise, China has begun to exert its influence in world affairs. People in different parts of the world, especially those in neighboring countries, have started to feel China’s growing presence.