Dimensions of guanxi in Chinese elite politics

Scholarly research on Chinese politics has accepted the view that interpersonal relationships (guanxi) play an important role in elite politics. It is generally recognized that political alliances in elite politics, while usually linked with ideological commitments and policy preferences, also rely greatly on guanxi.1 Although the role of guanxi in modern Chinese politics has been a subject of intense interest since the beginning of the Cultural Revolution, a gap exists in the scholarly studies in delineating how guanxi responds to complex political situations and effects the political behaviour of leaders. The prevalent view is that guanxi is used as a tactical tool to achieve self-interest. This paper disagrees with this view, finding that principles of etiquette, ethics and sentiment are often more significant than the self-interested aspects of guanxi.