Legitimation and democratization in a transitional China

In China under Deng Xiaoping, since the crushing of the democracy movement in June 1989, the communist party has attempted to modify the foundations of its legitimacy. The limits and the problems associated with the party's self-legitimation have led to a search for new forms of legitimation, and new forms of legitimation, in their turn, indicate a democratic direction, or lay a foundation for a move towards democracy in China. Of particular concern is elite legitimacy: whether the present conditions and circumstances in China will force, trick, lure or cajole the non-democrats into democratic behaviour in the process of their search for legitimacy in the coming succession struggle.