The Party: The Secret World of China's Communist Rulers

More about the book

This investigation reveals the pivotal role of China's Communist Party in the nation's remarkable rise as a global superpower and its rivalry with the United States. Over the past three decades, China has experienced unprecedented political and economic growth, akin to the Industrial Revolution in the West. Central to this transformation is the Communist Party, a powerful organization with over seventy-three million members. It exerts control over every facet of governance, from major cities to remote villages, and influences official religions, the media, and the military. The Party oversees substantial state-owned enterprises and manages the appointment of senior executives in government companies, many of which rank among the Fortune 500. Richard McGregor's exploration provides an unprecedented look into the inner workings of the Communist Party, illustrating how it governs the courts, media, and military while keeping corruption allegations internal. Despite its global influence, the Party remains secretive and unaccountable, operating outside the law and answerable only to its internal mechanisms. As the world's sole geopolitical rival to the U.S., it harbors a deep skepticism toward the West. McGregor's account offers a compelling portrait of the Communist Party's power, its control over China, and its implications for the future.