In the Xi Jinping era, it has become clear that the rule of law, as understood in the West, will not appear in China soon. But was this ever a likely option? This book argues China's legal system needs to be studied from an internal perspective, to take into account the characteristic architecture of China's Party-state. To do so, it addresses two key elements: ideology and organisation. Part One of the book discusses ideology and the law, exploring how the Chinese Communist Party conceives of the nature of law and its position within its broader range of policy tools. Part Two, on organisation and the law, reviews how these ideological principles manifest themselves in the application of law, as well as the reform of the Party-state. As such, it highlights how the Party's plans and approaches run counter to mainstream theoretical expectations, and advocates a greater attention to the inherent logic of the system itself.

Provides an in-depth study of the ideological and organisational features of China's legal system, as it is embedded in the Party-state.

About the Author
Rogier J. E. H. Creemers is Assistant Professor of the law and governance of China, at the Leiden Institute for Area Studies, Leiden University. His research explores how the Chinese Communist Party views its role in governance, and uses technology to further its project. With a VIDI grant from the Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research, he leads a project to chart the development of a tech-enabled 'smart state' in China. He is also preparing a book on China in Global Cyberspace. His previous research has been published in, amongst others, The China Journal, The Journal of Contemporary China, and Asiascape: Digital Asia. Susan Trevaskes is a professor of Chinese Studies at Griffith University, Australia. Her research has resulted in over 60 publications including the first books in English on the criminal courts in contemporary China (2007), policing serious crime in China (2010), and the death penalty reform in China (2012). She has published papers on Chinese justice in a number of journals including The China Journal, The British Journal of Criminology, The China Quarterly, and Modern China. Her latest co-edited volumes are The Politics of Law and Stability in China (2014), Legal Reforms and Deprivation of Liberty in Contemporary China (2016) and Justice: the China Experience (2017).

Reviews
'All those who are interested in fundamental questions about what the CCP represents and why it rules the way it does will find reading this collection an enriching journey.' Juan Wang, The China Quarterly



Book Information
ISBN 9781108818919
Author Rogier J. E. H. Creemers
Format Paperback
Page Count 285
Imprint Cambridge University Press
Publisher Cambridge University Press
Weight(grams) 390g
Dimensions(mm) 229mm * 152mm * 15mm