Xi''s Perpetual Purge: Experts See a Comprehensive Project to Remodel the CPC

A recent article in Foreign Affairs argues that the waves of purges under Chinese leader Xi Jinping since 2012 represent a comprehensive project to reconstruct the Communist Party, rather than just a means to eliminate rivals. Researchers Neil Thomas and Shengyu Wang suggest that Xi’s ''Self-Revolution'' aims to transform the CPC into an efficient and enduring governing machine capable of ruling China indefinitely, regardless of who is in charge. By institutionalizing discipline and using high-level purges as a deterrent, Xi seeks to ensure ideological purity and absolute loyalty. However, this hardline control also risks creating a rigid system where local officials avoid risks and hide problems to escape punishment, potentially leading to systemic paralysis. Ultimately, Xi positions ''Self-Revolution'' as a robust alternative to Western multi-party systems, aiming to be remembered as the leader who ''made the Party great again.''