Making sense of China's political system and its leadership style

Asialink is delighted to invite you to an exclusive opportunity to hear from two preeminent political theorists working on contemporary China. Professor Daniel A. Bell and Assistant Professor Pei Wang will each provide insight the Chinese political system and its leadership style.

How to make sense of China's political system?

In China,the political system aims to select and promote public officials with superior ability and virtue. This ideal-- known as "politicalmeritocracy"(贤能政治）--is deeply rooted in China's political culture and continues to inform the present day political system. There is a large gap between the ideal and the highly imperfect reality, but Daniel A. Bell will argue that the ideal of political meritocracy is the appropriate standard to judge China's political progress and regress.

The Leadership Myths that Shape US and Chinese Power
The competition between the USA and China spans many levels. The USA embraces the hero archetype influenced by ancient Greek ideals. In contrast, China, deeply influenced by Confucian culture, maintains the significant role of the father archetype even under Communist leadership. Through this comparison, Pei Wang will illuminate how archetypal narratives continue to shape power dynamics in the twenty-first century.

Following the formal presentations, former Australian Ambassador to China Geoff Raby AO will moderate a Q&A session.