Still My Vassal: Recentralized Authoritarianism, Streamlined Bureaucracy, and Institutionalized Meritocracy

• In Event: Patronage and Central-Local Relations in China

Brief Overview

Found that centralization can inhibit patronage and enhance institutionalization in political selection, consolidating the elite foundation of an authoritarian regime by fostering candidates' meritocratic beliefs and loyalty to the party-state.

Authors

• Shiyi Chen, School of Government, Sun Yat-sen University

• Ze Cai, New York University