Title: Is China a dictatorship? - The Washington Post
Headings: Mike Bloomberg said China isn’t a dictatorship. Is he right?
Mike Bloomberg said China isn’t a dictatorship. Is he right?
The Communist Party does listen to the people — sometimes
China’s CCP does listen to the people — as long as they aren’t independent-minded
China is still a dictatorship
And China is likely to remain a dictatorship

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China’s CCP does listen to the people — as long as they aren’t independent-minded
Bloomberg is right in one regard. The CCP has a big stake in learning what the Chinese public thinks and providing some of what it wants. The government encourages Chinese citizens to monitor local officials, file complaints and even provide input in policy planning. In a recent book on Chinese governance, my co-authors and I document how these limited forms of public engagement can help reduce corruption and improve compliance with regulations. Advertisement
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Other studies confirm that the Chinese government desires some measure of civil society, and is surprisingly receptive to public input — and even some well-intentioned criticism. In return, an abundance of research demonstrates the CCP continues to enjoy broad support and legitimacy among the Chinese public. Why the NBA and other companies struggle to push back against Chinese censorship
At the same time, the CCP is uncomfortable with having the Chinese people think, feel or act for themselves. Pervasive government censorship and targeted repression are symptoms of the leadership’s deep-seated insecurity. Naturally, it is harder for the regime to engage and understand the public if it limits what the public can say. But Beijing is getting better at figuring out what the Chinese people are saying and thinking.