The Communist Party of China and the Chinese road to modernisation

Abstract Faced with an overall crisis in China since the early 20th century, the Communist Party of China has pursued a Party-centric path to modernising the country, thus delivering its people out of an unorganised chaos. With democratic centralism at the core, China has developed a form of government distinct from Western representative democracy. Democratic centralism prevails throughout the organisational structure of power and the policy implementation process. This best shows the Party’s affinity to its people. China’s road to modernisation and success in governance, which are rooted in its own rich historical legacies, have meaningful implications for other developing countries.