Ep 50: Voting With Chinese Characteristics - Democracy Choreographed

In 1979 a new election law ended the era of single candidate elections, and theoretically ushered in an system where voters voters would have some level of choice in who their representatives would be. 

However despite the letter of the new law, Chinese Elections remained firmly under party control, with no real path for anyone other than party-appointed candidates to become nominated and even less of an ability for them to impact government if elected. Despite the dizzying array of votes, conferences, "opposition parties", and ceremonies, the system exists not to do Democracy, but to present the illusion, especially to the international society that democracy is being done.
 
Join us as we discuss the grand performance that is the modern Chinese voting system.