Martin Lavička, visiting research fellow at the Centre for East and South-East Asian Studies, has published a new research article in the Hague Journal on the Rule of Law. The article, titled " Rule of Law with Chinese Characteristics: A Contested Landscape," explores the tension between China’s stated commitment to the rule of law and its simultaneous pursuit of a Socialist rule of law with Chinese characteristics. This hybrid model selectively incorporates certain rule-of-law principles while deliberately avoiding elements that could challenge the Communist Party’s authority. The study highlights that, despite the CCP’s de facto position above the law, Chinese scholars hold differing views on the relationship between the Party-state and the legal system, as well as the future trajectory of legal reforms. However, under Xi Jinping’s leadership, China has increasingly steered away from conventional rule-of-law development, instead forging its own path.
You can read the full, open-access article on the Springer Nature website