Wealth into Power
The Communist Party's Embrace of China's Private Sector

Dickson argues that, rather than promoting democratization, China's entrepreneurs offer key support for the Communist Party's agenda.

Bruce J. Dickson (Author)

9780521878456, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 14 July 2008

294 pages, 1 b/w illus. 26 tables
22.9 x 15.2 x 2.1 cm, 0.6 kg

'… an important book that puts China on the map of general social science theories.' Journal of Asian Studies

In Wealth into Power, Bruce Dickson challenges the notion that economic development is leading to political change in China, or that China's private entrepreneurs are helping to promote democratization. Instead, they have become partners with the ruling Chinese Communist Party to promote economic growth while maintaining the political status quo. Dickson's research illuminates the Communist Party's strategy for incorporating China's capitalists into the political system and how the shared interests, personal ties, and common views of the party and the private sector are creating a form of 'crony communism'. Rather than being potential agents of change, China's entrepreneurs may prove to be a key source of support for the party's agenda. Based on years of research and original survey data, this book will be of interest to all those interested in China's political future and in the relationship between economic wealth and political power.

1. Introduction
2. The party's promotion of the private sector
3. Co-opting the capitalists
4. Bridges and branches: the CCP's institutional links to the private sector
5. Views on the economic, political, and social environments
6. Private entrepreneurs in public service: political participation in China's formal political institutions
7. The ripple effects of privatization
8. Conclusion.

Subject Areas: Political economy [KCP], Comparative politics [JPB]