The People’s Republic of China is a single-party country run by the Chinese Communist Party. How does this system of government work? Who leads China? What is Chinese civil society? Watch our Governance & Civil Society content to learn about how China is governed and what it means for U.S.-China relations.

China’s Government

What are the Chinese government’s goals in 2023?

The annual meetings of the National People’s Congress and Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, known as the “Two Sessions,” feature the gathering of political leaders in Beijing each spring to announce plans and goals for the coming year. Learn more about what happened at this year’s Two Sessions.

Who are the leaders of China?

Since the establishment of the People’s Republic of China in 1949, five men have principally shaped the ruling Chinese Communist Party and the nation: Mao Zedong, Deng Xiaoping, Jiang Zemin, Hu Jintao, and Xi Jinping. Find out how each of these leaders have impacted China’s trajectory.

Is China corrupt?

How has China grown so fast for so long despite extensive corruption? The answer lies in the type of corruption that prevails. Learn about the impact of corruption and the similarities and differences between corruption in the United States and China.

Civil Society in China

China’s urban-rural divide

Despite impressive economic development over the last four decades, China still have a poverty problem. Tune in to a discussion between two leading economists about the gap between China’s cities and villages and what this all means for China’s future.

Does China have a middle class?

China’s developing class structure and cosmopolitan culture, exemplified and led by Shanghai, could reshape U.S.-China engagement. Tune in as one scholar argues why both countries should build on the deep cultural and educational exchanges that have bound them together for more than forty years.

China’s Population Crisis

For years, China has experienced record low population growth. Beijing has loosened restrictions, but potential Chinese parents are skeptical. Find out about the social implications of China’s accelerating demographic crisis, with a focus on the varied reactions of women in China to recent policy shifts.

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