ABSTRACT
This chapter reviews the existing typologies of authoritarianism proposed by comparative political scientists. It argues that the Party state is adopting pragmatic authoritarianism, which is calculative in actual policies but ultimately aiming at prolonging the rule of the single party. The chapter describes the main features of pragmatic authoritarianism by placing the institutional changes in China in a comparative political context. Pragmatic authoritarianism involves overhauls of institutions, improvement of governance, efforts to deliver results of economic performance, defusing of public discontents through welfare provision, and ease of pressure for democratization through very limited opening of the political system. Pragmatic authoritarianism in China is a form of authoritarianism that is largely practical, flexible, and adaptive. This authoritarianism practice in China entails distinctive measures in economic governance, social governance, and political governance. The chapter also focuses on the differences between pragmatic authoritarianism along with soft authoritarianism and consultative authoritarianism.
