One-Party Rule or Multi-Party Competition?: Chinese Attitudes Toward Party Systems Alternatives

Abstract

This article tests multi-factor explanations for variance among Chinese citizens’ attitudes toward two related but separable party system concepts: the appropriateness of the current one-party system for China today, and the more abstract notion that multiple parties lead to chaos. Using data from The China Survey, conducted with a nationwide sample in 2008, the authors find that feelings of satisfaction with life and with the government contribute more to the explanation of support for China’s current one-party system, while more general attitudes concerning competition relate more strongly to judgments directed at the abstraction of multi-partyism. The data also reveal that while a bare majority accept the argument that multiple parties necessarily bring chaos, the vast majority support the one-party regime for China, suggesting that even if Chinese citizens were to adopt more pro-democratic attitudes, rejection of the current one-party rule would not necessarily follow.Abstract will be provided by author.