ABSTRACT
This chapter looks at the formal institutions for representation and how these have changed over time, and the informal mechanisms for representation that have been increasing in influence. Political representation in China follows the Leninist tradition with the Chinese Communist Party practising an extreme form of a trustee relationship, declaring itself to be the sole political organization entitled to represent the legitimate interests of the nation's people. The Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference has also become a livelier forum for discussion and policy suggestions on prominent social, economic and foreign policy affairs. The less stringent political controls and the rising number of societal challenges have led to a rapid expansion in Non-Government Organisations or what the Chinese literature refers to as social organizations. The Party is right to be concerned as various events have shown that new media are supporting a new form of political activism, and have mobilized citizens in ways that could impact on policy.
