Morning Clicks | Two sides of the Communist Party's Central Party School
Two recent articles look at the role the institution plays, both for attendees' careers and beyond China's borders
The students — largely middle-age government officials looking for promotion — no longer see their mandatory time at the school as a chance to immerse themselves in the wisdom of communism. Instead, it’s become a prime place to cultivate allies with whom they can trade future favors and backdoor deals to further their careers and wealth. That means calculated friendships, luxury dinners expensed to local governments and boozy nights on the town.
The high political positions held by the trainees and the school's ties with China's leadership provide a strong motivation for foreign officials to pay a visit, sending their messages to, and building connections with, the country's future leaders.
"It comes as no surprise, when you consider China's rapid pace of development and its growing influence within the international community. A visit to the school indicates that overseas officials have a willingness to learn about the country and the Party," said Song Yinghui, a researcher at the China Institute of Contemporary International Relations.
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