(iPoster) Business in Front, Party in Back: Party Committees and China's Firms

• In Event: Poster Session: Politics of Communist and Former Communist Countries (Asia)

Abstract

This article argues that party organisations (POs) offer the Chinese Communist Party(CCP) a control mechanism over non-public enterprises (NPEs, 非公企业). The party seeks to cultivate control through the injection of ‘red genes’ (红色基因). Successful PO control generates leverage, deters NPEs from opposing the party, channels company efforts toward chronic policy challenges, solves crises, and formalizes incentive structures. POs (which include party committees as well as other institutional forms of CCP presence) seek to position themselves as being mutually-beneficial for firms, moulding workers and executives who increase firm productivity even as they respond to political incentives. For this article, the authors examined 40 of the largest private Chinese enterprises for indicators of PO activity. From those, three companies were highlighted for in-depth analysis, arguing that these efforts build out the CPC’s enhanced capability to direct economic activity; and thus, ultimately, Chinese economic statecraft.

Authors

• William J. Norris, Texas A&M University

• Ted Tyler, Stand Together Trust