Praised for its “stimulating view” and “insider” perspective, Ling Li’s book offers “a vivid X-ray” of the opaque dynamics of China’s Party-state. Described as “a major study of the inner workings of China’s political-legal system,” it provides “the most thorough account to date of the Party’s disciplinary system” and stands as “a rare and important contribution” to understanding how the Chinese Communist Party governs both itself and the country.
Drawing on two decades of in-depth research, the book “incisively penetrates” the black box of decision-making in China’s Party-state. By situating corruption within the institutional logic of regime stability, discipline, and control, it demonstrates how formal rules, informal practices, and institutional design interact to shape governance outcomes. The book is essential reading for anyone seeking to understand China’s governance model and its global implications.
Ling Li teaches Chinese law and politics at the University of Vienna. She received her doctorate in law from Leiden University and has published extensively on corruption, anti-corruption, and the political-legal system of the People’s Republic of China.
Author: Ling Li (University of Vienna)
Discussant: Patricia Thornton (University of Oxford)
Moderator: Christoph Steinhardt (University of Vienna)
For more information, please refer to the attached PDF
- DATE: Thursday, May 21, 2026
- TIME: 16:45-18:15
- LOCATION:SIN 1, Department for East Asian Studies/Chinese Studies, Altes AKH, Campus, Spitalgasse 2, Yard 2, Entrance 2.3
