DISCUSSION PAPER1

Role of Chinese leadership in re-building

a new paradigm in international politics

Mishaal Malik2
December 2023

Asian Institute of Eco-civilization Research

and Development

1
The author is the student of BS International Relations at Quaid-e-Azam University, Islamabad. This discussion paper
is the output of a Fellowship Programme titled: ‘Understanding China', organized by AIERD to train young scholars on
the Chinese model of development and mutual prosperity. I am especially thankful to Khalid Taimur, Hikmat Wazir,
Salman Ali, Shakeel Ahmad and Dr.Sundas Khizar for their insights within interview.
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A publication of the Asian Institute of Eco-civilization, Research and Development

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First edition: December 2023

© 2023 by the Asian Institute of Eco-civilization, Research and Development

 ABSTRACT

What role does leadership plays in development of sates? Now, Xi Jinping has
emerged as a global leader with an alternative vision for the world. The standing-
up stage of China was accomplished by Mao Zedong and the growing stage by
Deng Xiaoping. However, President Xi Jinping promised to make China strong
and prosperous. This study explores the conceptual framework of leadership and
the role of leadership in modernization of China by using both primary and
secondary data. It can be inferred that within the development of a country,
leadership does play a significant role; China is the best example for that.
President Xi Jinping leadership style can be termed as transformational, having
deontological basis. President Xi Jinping achieved zero poverty in China,
balanced economic development, and presented the concept of a Community with
a Shared Future. Pakistan can learn a lesson from Chinese leadership and can
form a futuristic approach. Moreover, history reveals that leadership has played a
crucial role in altering the fate of the country.
Keywords: Growing stage, Global, Leadership, Zero Poverty, Transformational,
Community with a Shared Future.
CONTENTS

1. Introduction

2. Literature Review

3. Methodology

4. Discussion and Analysis

4.1 Conceptualizing Leadership

4.2 Chinese Leadership and its Vision

5. Policy Recommendations

6. Conclusion

References
 1. INTRODUCTION
At a time when China was struggling to improve its growth and governance
models, ideological discussions were being held between the party members and
common masses. Some people were the proponents of returning to the old
Chinese civilization and introducing structural adjustments resembling Mao
Zedong's era whereas a handful of people favored uncoupling of the party and the
state government. China was in a quagmire on both sides either in adopting a
heterodox path or traditional agrarian setup. At this time, President Xi Jinping
emerged as a staunch leader, took the onus of the Communist Party of China at a
precarious juncture. His remarks, writings, and instructions paved the way for
China's new thinking about international relations and its peaceful rise. During the
period between 2014 to 2018, the Chinese government published three works by
Xi Jinping about international affairs. Western scholars supported his vision and
views. Mazarr, Heath and Cevallos (2018) are of the view that China does not
want to threaten the existing order instead it is eliminating the parts of
international politics that is unjust.

Different theories help us understand the role and behavior of a leader. The role of
Xi Jinping's leadership in the peaceful rise of China is unique and dominant. In
this study, the focus will be on how history, state-society relations, and vision of a
leader shape the state behavior. This study aims to discuss the role of Xi Jinping's
perceptions and vision towards the peaceful rise of China. Though the scope of
the study is limited, lessons will be inferred for Pakistan, which faces similar
challenges.

2. LITERATURE REVIEW
The Literature review can be divided into two categories. The first category deals
with the how Chinese leaders have overcome challenges and within second
category positive and negative remarks about China have been analyzed. To begin
with, Ramay (2023) mentioned three ways utilized by President Xi Jinping in
economic development of the country. First, he showed zero tolerance for
corruption. Second, he combats unbalanced development by achieving zero
poverty within China and laying the foundation for ecological civilization. Third,
he focused on confronting global challenges together. Referring to the Xi Jinping
doctrine of Chinese International Relations, Zhang (2019) concluded that Xi has
drawn lessons from Chinese history and decided to proliferate the Chinese model
of international relations. It's now the 21st-century version of Sino-Centrism and
the globally central position of China after the century of humiliation. Now, Xi
Jinping has envisaged and promised a stronger position for China in international
politics (Jacob 2022). It means before assuming power, Xi has already made up
his mind as how should the future state of China. However, his predecessors Hu
Jintao and Jiang Zemin differ with him. The veneration of Xi Jinping is analogous
to the Mao Zedong. It also reveals that ranging from Confucianism to Daoism to
the Legalist School and neo-Maoists; Xi analyzes all of these schools of thoughts
and chooses what works for him and the CPC.
Ramay (2022) argues that Xi Jinping is a futuristic-oriented leader and a great
revolutionary. He is a big supporter of large-scale reforms instead of altering the
system. Xi envisages the Community with a shared future. He also took practical
steps to materialize his vision.
Dickenson (2017) includes Western narratives on Xi's leadership moreover, it also
discusses the approach of Xi's vision for global governance. Moreover, t Xi's
"Four comprehensive lists of goals" including his vision of expanding cooperation
with the developing world remained under discussion. In 2014, under Xi Jinping's
leadership, a meeting on climate change was held in Beijing. Furthermore, Xi is
playing an active role in inspiring G20 leaders for sustainable development. This
article concludes that Xi has an alternative vision to the West's zero-sum game
mentality.

Kuo (2021) argues that Xi Jinping has a capture-bonding syndrome which

retarded his individualism and psychological development. He lived under the
grandiose of Maoism consequently, making him crazy Maoist. However, Xi has
clarified that he has planned to manage a philosophically stricter "new time" that
will focus on "common prosperity", more tight guidelines of private sector
conglomerates, and a less obvious rich-poor gap in what is one of the world's most
inconsistent social orders. Xi's administration has become serious about
youngsters, who apply communist investigation critically to the maltreatment of
labor permitted under China's arrangement of state-free enterprise. In any case, it
has supported the interest of communist educators, who presently assume a basic
part in teaching general society about why China's socialist system is better than
the West.

Meanwhile, Xi Jinping reminded the CPC about its original mission that led to the
revival of Marxism in China. However, in the past, capitalism was introduced in
China obfuscating Maoism (Ideological tug-of-war 2022).

Dittmer (2003) informs us about subsequent political development in China. He

mentioned Jiang Zemin's leadership style and his role in the recurrence of
ostracism towards China's rise to great power status.

3. METHODOLOGY
The study is qualitative in nature and the data has been gathered from both
primary and secondary sources. The primary data was collected through
interviewing experts on China, common people's views, and PhD scholars
(Appendix A). The secondary data includes Journal articles, newspapers, official
documents, and authentic documentaries published by the Chinese government.
 4. DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS

4.1 Conceptualizing leadership

Politics is an art wherein a leader influences the audience to achieve a shared goal.
In that sense, leadership and influence are intertwined. However, there is a
difference between management and effective leadership. An effective leader
focuses on three aspects generating vision, motivating people, and forming
alliances to achieve objectives (Hu 2018). To understand the role leadership,
theories have been proposed including behavioral theory, contingency theory, trait
theory, and power & influence theory. Difference of opinion among scholars on
traits of leadership led to the formation of behavioral theory. The trait theory
focuses on the innate traits of a person whereas behavioral theory focused on the
actions of the leader (Naoum 2011). Similarly, contingency theory focused on the
situational specific adeptness of the leader.

According to Joseph Nye (2013), good leadership needs vision and execution.
Within that he categorized leadership into transactional and transformational
leadership. Transactional leaders are concerned about adopting an incentive-
based approach. In contrast, transformational leaders focus on empowering people
and creating shared goals. As transformational leadership believes in shared goals,
they do form new ideals and solutions to existing problems. Moreover, these
leaders also focus on ethics and morals. In contrast, transactional leadership is
different, that's why these are opposites. To sum up, transformational leadership is
based on a deontological basis wherein the groundwork for guiding behavior is
moral validation. In contrast, transactional leadership is governed by a
teleological basis (Khalid 2022).

4.2 Chinese Leadership:

Chinese do believe in the historical concept of Tianxia that means "all under the
heaven". Over time, Tianxia has gone through several outlooks. The imperial
Chinese elite considered that a true King must be exclusive and high in morale. In
recent history, Mao had a revolutionary approach, and to varying degrees, Xi has
been compared with Mao due to his popularity. Deng Xiaoping had a mundane
approach to economics with no ideological basis. Hu Jintao focused on harmony
and Xi focused on community discourse. Hu Jintao, in his speech at the UN in
2005, referred to the vision of a "Harmonious World" which had themes of
common security and development. In contrast, during the times of Jiang Zemin,
there was no concept of "common interests". However, Xi Jinping focused on an
open and inclusive nature of community with a shared future. President Xi Jinping
can be referred to as a great leader due to his ideology of rejuvenating Chinese
nationalism based on history. The national rejuvenation means making China
arduous and prosperous (fuiqiang).
Hikmat Wazir (personal communication, 20 August 2023) said that Xi Jinping has
eradicated poverty within China and it’s a developmental miracle. Not only has he
put his country on the path of economic development but also towards
modernization.
President Xi believes that China's take-off phase was accomplished by Mao, the
growing stage achieved by Deng Xiaoping, and now Xi has promised to make
China a strong state. Most importantly, he is capable of enunciating a resilient
objective for himself and China. During the CCP’s 19th Congress, he asserted that
we are closer to our goal of making national rejuvenation a reality. On foreign
policy, he has constructed a unique idea of community with a shared future. His
vision of a win-win partnership is appealing to the developing third-world
countries.
Khalid Taimur Akram (Personal Communication, 23 August 2023) said that the
effective leadership of Xi Jinping played a vital role in Chinese development;
moreover Belt & Road Initiative (BRI) is a visionary and giant project of this
century.
Furthermore, his vision of a shared future promises a more collaborative global
environment (Akhtar 2023). In the time of Hu Jintao's leadership, China suffered
internally and externally due to the isolated foreign policy. However, Xi Jinping
rectified the foreign policy by making sweeping changes in diplomacy (Zhang
2019). Xi's message within foreign policy is more direct than his predecessor Hu
Jintao. He made it clear that China would foster its relations with neighbors but
not at the cost of China’s national interest.
Sundas Khizar (personal communication, 04 September 2023) said that due to Xi
Jinping leadership, China gained openness and recognition in international
politics. Furthermore, Xi Jinping is the most dominant leader after Mao Zedong,
who played role in strengthening China’s image in the world.
During a meeting of Boao forum, he presented the idea of community with shared
future. He illustrated that humankind has one planet where all humanity must
thrive. He is also referred to as a new geopolitical master due to his BRI project
which proves his long-term strategic nature. Now, China is making a major
contribution to the world peace, development in the 21st century, and its version of
Sino-centrism.
Salman Bhittani (personal communication, 26 August 2023) said that leadership
always played a vital role in Chinese history and Xi Jinping’s role is very strong
because of his charismatic personality. Not only he has given alternative ways of
doing politics but also his action-oriented approach can be observed by seeing
how he is connecting Asia, Europe, and Africa. Many scholars believe that China
will become a leading power in the upcoming years.

5. POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS

 Pakistan must learn from China as to how visionary leaders can act as game
changers while bringing about and socio-politico-economic stability in the
country.
 Pakistan must learn from China how to create a complex interdependence
 with other countries especially neighbors. For this purpose, Chinese
leaderships’ vision, strategy, and practice need to be followed.
 China has overcome corruption and poverty like issues because of a staunch
and strong leadership. Pakistan can root out corruption and poverty through
a competent and sincere leadership through bureaucratic and political
leadership.

 Within academia and intelligentsia, a debate should be generated on

effective leadership and how it can be evolved.

6.CONCLUSION

China has emerged as a global power in recent years. The change of leadership
within China led to the rethinking of their domestic and international affairs. The
subsequent leadership within China played a significant role in its peaceful rise.
President Xi Jinping fulfilled his promise of making China prosperous and
powerful. He draws lessons from Chinese history and adopts a strategy of win-
win partnership. Xi Jinping has become a role model for other countries' leaders
to follow. Within the leadership theories, transformational leadership is the best as
it empowers people. Xi Jinping has transformational leadership skills along with a
futuristic vision. President Xi’s approach is modifying by leading and modifying
together by others. This study can be expanded by conducting more research on
the nexus between domestic and international politics, and what guidance we can
receive for the country’s benefits.
 References
Akhtar, R 2023, "President Xi Jinping’s Visio n of Building a Community with a Shared Future
for Mankind: A Review of the Past Decade", Pakistan Research Center for a
community with shared future 19.

Ideological ‘tug-of-war’ between China’s party-state and society 2022, National Endowment for
Democracy, Democracy Digest,

Dickenson, J 2017, "Xi Jinping’s role in China, and China’s role in the world," World Economic
Forum, January 16

Dittmer, Lowell. 2003. "Leadership Change and Chinese Political Development." Jstor 22.
Hu, W2018, " Xi Jinping’s ‘major country diplomacy’: The role of leadership in Foreign Policy
Transformation," Journal of comtrmporary China, vol. 1, no 14
Jacob, JT 2022, "Book review: François Bougon, Inside the Mind of Xi Jinping." Sage Journals
2.
Joseph SN Jr 2013, "Presidential Leadership and the Creation of the American Era (The
Richard Ullman Lectures)." First edition, Princeton University Press,
Khalid, I 2022, "Understanding Leadership: A case study of President Xi Jinping ", Pakistan
Research Center for a Community with shared Future
Kuo, MA 2021, "China’s ‘Common Prosperity’: The Maoism of Xi Jinping", The Diplomat,
September 23
Michael JM, Timothy RH, Astrid SC 2018, "China and the International Order," RAND
Corporation
Naoum, SG 2011, "People and Organizational Management in Construction, Second edition."
In People and Organizational Management in Construction, Second edition, by Shamil
Noum, Ice Publishing.
Ramay, S 2023, "President Xi’s Leadership." Daily Times, August 16
Ramay, 2022, "President Xi Jinping Vision of New World." The Asian Institute of Eco
Civilization of Research and development
Zhang, Feng. 2019. "The Xi Jinping Doctrine of China’s International Relations." National
Bureau of Asian Research (NBR)
Appendix-A
List of interviewees
Name of Experts Designation Institution

Khalid Taimur Executive Pakistan Research Center for

Director Community with Shared Future

Salman Ali Bhittani Professor School of Politics and International

Relations, Quaid-e-Azam University,
Islamabad
Shakeel Ahmad Chief Executive Asian Institute of Eco-civilization
Ramay Research and Development, Islamabad
Hikmat Wazir MPhil Scholar School of Politics and International
Relations, Quaid-e-Azam University
Dr. Sundas Khizar Faculty Member University of Sargodha

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