University Networks and the Rise of Qinghua Graduates in China's Leadership

Abstract

The crucial role of school networks in elite recruitment has been widely recognized in many countries. For example, Eton College in Great Britain, the Ecole Nationale d'Administration (ENA) in France, the Law School of Tokyo University (Todai) in Japan, the Doon School in India, and the Universidad Catolica of Santiago in Chile (graduates in this school later became the well-known 'Chicago Boys') have all been famous for engendering political networks.2 Likewise, China now has one educational establishment that