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International
Two New Books Examine How China’s Liberalisation Bolstered the CCP and Its Impact on India
✍️ India's World
🗓 25 Jul 2026, 11:04 AM
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Scholars have released two new works that argue China’s economic reforms have consolidated the Communist Party’s power, raising questions about the strategy’s relevance for India.
Two recent publications have entered the academic conversation about China’s economic liberalisation, arguing that the reforms which opened the country’s markets in the late 1970s have, paradoxically, strengthened the ruling Communist Party’s grip on power. The books, written by scholars from leading universities, trace how the shift from a centrally planned economy to a market-oriented model created new avenues for the Party to consolidate control over key industries and financial institutions.
The authors contend that the economic boom brought by liberalisation has enabled the CCP to expand its patronage networks, deepen its surveillance capabilities, and embed itself more deeply in the nation’s social fabric. They argue that this consolidation has made the Party more resilient to internal dissent and external pressures.
While the analysis focuses on China, the authors explicitly draw parallels to India, warning that adopting similar liberalisation policies without robust institutional safeguards could lead to comparable outcomes. They suggest that India must consider the political ramifications of rapid market reforms and ensure that democratic institutions are strengthened alongside economic growth.
The books have sparked debate among policymakers and scholars, who are now re‑examining the long‑term implications of liberalisation for political stability and governance in both countries.
The authors contend that the economic boom brought by liberalisation has enabled the CCP to expand its patronage networks, deepen its surveillance capabilities, and embed itself more deeply in the nation’s social fabric. They argue that this consolidation has made the Party more resilient to internal dissent and external pressures.
While the analysis focuses on China, the authors explicitly draw parallels to India, warning that adopting similar liberalisation policies without robust institutional safeguards could lead to comparable outcomes. They suggest that India must consider the political ramifications of rapid market reforms and ensure that democratic institutions are strengthened alongside economic growth.
The books have sparked debate among policymakers and scholars, who are now re‑examining the long‑term implications of liberalisation for political stability and governance in both countries.