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Understanding Hierarchy in Chinese Government
Victor Shih explains the significance of hierarchy within Chinese government agencies. Officials refer to each other by their ranks rather than titles, highlighting the importance of bureaucratic and party ranks. This segment sets the stage for understanding how these hierarchical structures influence interactions and decision-making in the Chinese political landscape.
"If you actually go to a Chinese government agency, as I've done a number of times and talk to officials, when they refer to each other, they don't say, "Oh, you know, director of information so and so..."
Understanding Hierarchy in Chinese Government
Victor Shih explains the significance of hierarchy within Chinese government agencies, emphasizing how officials refer to each other by rank rather than title. He discusses the dual systems of bureaucratic and party ranks, and the importance of annual evaluations that influence careers, while also noting the role of patronage in the political landscape.
"If you actually go to a Chinese government agency, as I've done a number of times and talk to officials, when they refer to each other, they don't say, "Oh, you know, director of information so and so..."
The Role of Evaluations and Patronage
In this segment, Shih discusses the evaluation process for officials in the Chinese government, which occurs annually and at the end of their tenure. He emphasizes that while evaluations influence careers, patronage plays a crucial role, particularly in relation to Xi Jinping. This duality of evaluation and patronage is essential for understanding career progression within the Chinese political system.
"about which is evaluation. Every person in the Chinese government gets evaluated once a year at least but also at the end uh of their tenure in a particular job and then they get a score for each of t..."