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China The Components of Reform
The major components of 1980s political reform emphasized
collective leadership, the re-establishment of the party
Secretariat to implement party policy and to train a group of
senior-level successors, the strengthening of the government
apparatus to enable it to share more power and responsibility for
the development of the reform program, and the removal of the
military from a major and sustained role in politics. The
introduction of direct elections and multiple candidates for
people's congresses up to the county level broadened public
participation in China's governmental and political processes.
Also, the electoral process provided an expanded forum for
assessing both the potential and the shortcomings of party reform
policies. The intent to involve the public in the process of
identifying and resolving problems that emerge in implementing the
reform program also was extended to vocational groups. For example,
workers' congresses were given increased leeway to examine, debate,
and discuss the policies being carried out in factories and even to
evaluate the performance of factory managers. Even though the
governmental and vocational groups had no direct political power,
their new public voice on reform elevated the political process at
least one step above the secret, closed channels of the Maoist era.
In institutionalizing the reform debate, the party also developed
a more efficient means for shaping and channeling public debate.
Data as of July 1987
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