Party Ideology, Public Discourse, and Reform Governance in China

This book analyzes the operational dimension of the Chinese communist party's ideology and reveals the complex relationship between ideology, language, governance, and political power in the broader context of China's economic reforms. The book questions state-centric, legitimacy-focused, and content-based approaches to party ideology and analyzes its practice. Conceptualizing public discourse as a 'language game' played by the rules set by the party, the book examines how party ideology is operationalized by multiple state and non-state actors as political rhetoric for persuasion in contentious reform discourses. Through the case studies of the policy discourses over state-owned enterprise reforms under Deng Xiaoping, Jiang Zemin and Xi Jinping, the book highlights ideology's double-edged operational functions (consensus-inducing and conflict-inducing) and claims that ideology can be a double-edged sword for rulers: It is a vital resource to legitimate and sustain their rule; yet, itpotentially destabilizes their rule as well. The book proposes new angles to study ideology, legitimacy, and governance and is aimed at political scientists who study authoritarian governance, policy process, and political communication. Its multi-disciplinary approach also appeals to sociologists, media/communication scholars, and linguists who work on rhetoric, political language, and media discourses.

Questions the normative assumption of ideology's legitimating function shared by many propaganda scholars Argues that ideology can be a double-edged sword for political leaders Explores the relationship between ideology, language, reform governance, and political power in the Chinese context

Autorentext
Yayoi Kato is Assistant Professor of Political Science at the Moravian College, Pennsylvania, USA, specializing in Chinese politics. Her research focuses on ideology and propaganda work of the Communist Party of China, political rhetoric, and discourse analysis of China's reform policy debates.

Klappentext

This book analyzes the operational dimension of the Chinese communist party s ideology and reveals the complex relationship between ideology, language, governance, and political power in the broader context of Chinäs economic reforms. The book questions state-centric, legitimacy-focused, and content-based approaches to party ideology and analyzes its practice. Conceptualizing public discourse as a language game played by the rules set by the party, the book examines how party ideology is operationalized by multiple state and non-state actors as political rhetoric for persuasion in contentious reform discourses. Through the case studies of the policy discourses over state-owned enterprise reforms under Deng Xiaoping, Jiang Zemin and Xi Jinping, the book highlights ideology s double-edged operational functions (consensus-inducing and conflict-inducing) and claims that ideology can be a double-edged sword for rulers: It is a vital resource to legitimate and sustain their rule; yet, itpotentially destabilizes their rule as well. The book proposes new angles to study ideology, legitimacy, and governance and is aimed at political scientists who study authoritarian governance, policy process, and political communication. Its multi-disciplinary approach also appeals to sociologists, media/communication scholars, and linguists who work on rhetoric, political language, and media discourses.

Inhalt
Introduction.- Chapter 1. Ideology: Definitions, Approaches, and Critique.- Chapter 2. Analyzing the Language Game: Conceptual Framework, Data, and Methods.- Chapter 3. SOE Reform Discourse under Jiang Zemin.- Chapter 4. SOE Reform Discourse under Xi Jinping.- Chapter 5. Two Faces of Ideology: Double-Edged Sword for Rulers.- Chapter 6. Ideology, Language, and Political Power: Implications for Xi Rule.- Conclusion.