THE EIGHTH CENTRAL COMMITTEE OF THE CHINESE COMMUNIST PARTY: A STUDY OF AN ELITE

In: American political science review, Band 51, Heft 2, S. 392-404

Abstract

The 8th Central Committee (CC) of the Chinese Communist Party, elected in September 1956, consists of 94 men & 3 women, including almost all of the full & alternate members of the 7th CC elected 11 yrs earlier, a remarkable showing of leadership stability. Instead of having a proletarian background the leaders were mostly born to Mc or UMc families. With a (mean - average) age of 53, they are time-tested & dedicated Communists. Coming largely from the Middle Yangtze basin, with Hunan Province (home of Mao Tse-tung) sharing nearly 33% of the (total - sum) membership, an overwhelming majority of the members are well-educated & have gained recognition by working principally as military commanders & party organizers. By holding multiple, strategic posts in the party, gov & mass org's, these 97 leaders have effective control over all aspects of the national life. But the membership list also shows that a rigid seniority rule has been developed in the party that may unduly restrict the party's ability to accommodate brilliant new converts. AA-IPSA.