How far have economic reforms since 1978 affected Chinas governance?

After the period of economic reforms and opening up of China in 1978, Chinas
governance inevitably experienced a radically changed. While certain principles
of governance remain, governance in China has changed substantially. This
essay seeks to argue that economic reforms have radically changed governance
in China as it is evitable for CCP to continue to govern China and sustain high
growth.
Economic reforms have also radically changed the justification for CCPs
governance by bringing in other pillars of legitimacy. Whereas the past
communism formed the premise of CCPs legitimacy to rule, the amount of
money squandered through corruption scandals since economic reforms brought
in wealth have blatantly contradicted the egalitarian principle the party is
supposed to follow such that communism can no longer be the foundation of
legitimacy. The absence of competitive political process and free press which
make even public sector susceptible to fraud, thefts, kickbacks and bribery only
further serves to weaken CCPs mandate to rule. As a result, other pillars of
legitimacy like nationalism, civil governance and populism had to be added to
support CCPs legitimacy and governance to rule as such no longer followed the
Maoist principles it once did.
Nevertheless, even after economic reforms, communism remains as one of the
principle justification and legitimacy of CCPs rule. Communism with its emphasis
of the socialist dictatorship explains why there will only be one party as the
governing organ of China. This confers CCP with the rights to outlaw the
existence of other political parties and validates the omission of elections or
democratic practices. Mao Zedong, who liberalized China and its people through
the revolution of a civil war, together with CCPs allegiance to Mao, then justifies
why CCP is that one party that will have unchallenged and unquestioned
authority. Anybody that wishes to join the politics of China would have to join the
cadre school from young where they would be thought communist values. In this
way, CCP will always hold on to the communist ideology as it allows power to be
centralized in the party. As such, communist still continues to justify CCPs
political legitimacy even after economic reforms.
Dire consequences of economic reforms have weakened CCPs legitimacy due to
the detrimental by-products of economic growth. China has been plagued by
social ills that are borne of its economic reforms. Economic transformation has
resulted in serious environmental degradation that is detrimental to the health
and social stability of China. Economic success coupled with unequal
development has also exacerbated socioeconomic inequalities, worsening social
tensions. Market reforms have also accentuated dissents against CCP regime as
more challenges to CCPs legitimacy to rule began to surface. The prevalence
and rampancy of corruption that have been exacerbated by Chinas economic
success are rooted in Chinas partially reformed economy and absence of
genuine political reforms. For many years, Beijing, for fear of undermining the
supremacy ruling party has lacked the political will to act against top level party
officials and this has encouraged rampant level of corruption in a patron-client
structural relationship. The recent Bo Xilai saga is a good example: Credibility of
governing institutions was critically undermined; public resentment was fuelled;
massive economic distortions were resulted; and needlessly, CCPs legitimacy
was challenged. Hence, economic growth is not all sunshine and rainbow for the
CCP and the brunt of it may cost CCP.

Nevertheless, by bringing in prosperity for the people, economic reforms help to

strengthen CCPs legitimacy to rule in the country and keep the partys rule
largely unchallenged and without popular opposition. Economic prosperity has
been the line of defense for CCP that have made it possible for a large majority
of the people to stay at least passively acceptant of CCPs authoritarian rule. Due
to the success of economic reforms, living standards for both the rural residents
and the urbanites have vastly and greatly improved. Since Chinas opening up,
400million people have been lifted out of poverty. In 2003 alone, in spite of the
outbreak of SARS, 13million jobs were created. Real income for rural residents
grew by 4.3%. CCP, with its promise of people-centered development to the
country, has been able to gain the continual support of the people to unite with it
in spurring the Chinese economy. 20.95trillion yuan raked in in 2006 shows that
CCP has been successful at uniting the people through economic development,
and at the same time safeguard its legitimacy as people are kept content with
the status quo. The economic successes of the CCP have caused the emergence
of a middle class in China that largely supports the CCP for fear of rocking the
boat of prosperity. As such, economic reforms have the reverse impact in
persisting the authoritarian rule of CCP in the country.
As a side effect to of economic reforms, CCP has also become more
accommodating to the demands of the more vocal public in its governance. To
facilitate economic development, open debate on national policies and meet-thepeople sessions by local officials are organized to hear the differing views from
the society regarding economic policies. Village elections are held at local level
and more autonomy have been granted in setting policies. The introduction of
village committees and village assemblies enforces greater responsibility on local
CCP bosses to develop the rural areas. Village CCP party secretaries have share
power with the village committees. The impact of diversification of political
power in the rural areas remains to be seen as the local CCP leaders still hold
onto leadership, thus showing that CCP has indeed adapted to the new socioeconomic realities even as economic reforms continue to be pushed forth and
has become more tolerant of opposing views in its governance of China.
Nevertheless, even with economic reforms as the change factor, CCP continues
to rely on certain degree of propaganda and censorship as means to stifle
resentful voice as it push forth its policies. Where the government see fit, CCP
can inhibit and distort information as long as they perceive it as a threat to social
and political stability. Although the Internet was liberalized, strong authoritarian
regulations were implemented to stymie civic awareness that is detrimental to
the governance of CCP. Google searches like Tiananmen Square protest of
1989, June Fourth Massacre and Gang of Four are removed in China from
public view. Even on online forums, propaganda teams like the fifty-cent gang
are employed to tilt online debates and discussions in the favour of CCP by
bombarding the pages with favourable comments for the government or by
criticizing seditious views. Therefore, evidently, propaganda and censorship are
still heavily used in the governance of China even with effects from economic
reforms.
In conclusion, certain principles of governance remain. However, governance in
China has changed substantially. Therefore, economic reforms have radically
changed governance in China as it is evitable for CCP to continue to govern
China and sustain high growth.