China's Party-state system hides where power lies

Outlook

Superficially, China's governance structure resembles that of a typical state, with an executive, a judiciary, self-organised civil institutions and an elected legislature in which supreme power rests. However, the Communist Party -- with alternative chains of command in which most real authority lies -- permeates and undermines these institutional relationships.

This pervasive presence will doom any attempt to invest China's legislative, executive, judicial or civil institutions with greater independence.

Impacts

• The Party's all-encompassing structure means cohesion will always be a struggle.
• Family and patronage ties further blur already opaque lines of authority.
• The military's duty is to protect the Party, not the country; suggestions otherwise are heresy.