Chinese Political History II: Chapter 10, Exercise 2 — Possible Solution
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TASK
Choose one thread, describe its earlier and later case in your own words,
and say whether the later case repeats the pattern or changes it.

WORKED EXAMPLE: informal authority moving policy

EARLIER CASE
In 1992 Deng Xiaoping, aged 87 and holding no formal post, toured the south
and restarted a stalled reform. The sitting general secretary aligned with
him by April, and the 14th Congress adopted "socialist market economy."

LATER CASE
By 2016 Xi Jinping was designated "leadership core," and by 2017-2018 his
own doctrine was in the party and state constitutions, in addition to his
three formal posts.

REPEAT OR CHANGE
Both are authority beyond an ordinary post. But in 1992 it was exercised by
a man with no formal position, and in the later case it is exercised by the
holder of every top post and written into the constitution. I read that as
a change in form: the informal authority was formalized.

CAUTION
This is my reading. The sources describe the events, not whether they
represent a change of kind.