Spring 2004:
Party Affairs
By Alice L. Miller

The sweeping turnover of top party and state leaders completed in 2003 brought about the retirement of more than a dozen influential men who had dominated China's politics in the 1990s. Together they join a group of leaders, commonly referred to as the "elders," who presumably retain significant political influence in the decision making of their successors. Since retiring, however, the elders have presented a very low public profile, so divining the extent and nature of their influence is a highly speculative enterprise.

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