When there's only water? No, not that kind of party. The Communist Party of China. We call it a party, perhaps for historical reasons, but perhaps it would be better to think of it more like part of the Chinese civil service. It's members are unelected; they are chosen in part for ideology; they are probably lots of family connections (Guanxi). It's also not wedded to any economic orthodoxy, as evidenced by the embracing of free market principles, only maintaining power. So a bit like the British civil service of the 1950s? Lots of old boy club connections, coming from the "right background", "dependable chap" that kind of thing. The parallel isn't by any means perfect, but perhaps should stop thinking of the Communist Party of China as a left leaning political movement. It's a now venerable Chinese institution.
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