Dual Constitutional Order in China’s Party-state: Paradigms of Liberal vs Illiberal Constitutionalism
Date & Time: September 20, 2024 (Friday) at 10:00am-11:00am
Revised Venue: Room 723, 7/F, Room 824, 8/F, Cheng Yu Tung Tower, The University of Hong Kong
Language: English
(In-person only)
Abstract：
This study conceptualizes key differences between liberal and illiberal constitutional practices. By contrasting the UK and US (representing liberal constitutionalism) with the PRC (an example of illiberal constitutionalism), it explores the roles of monist and dual constitutional orders. The monist structure of liberal constitutional practices comprises a single power seat, a singular sovereignty of people, and the rule of law. Conversely, China’s Party-state upholds a dual constitutional order, with dual seats of power, dual sovereigns, and a dual ordering system. The dual structure sees power flow from both the top and bottom, with a state system based on law and a party system based on power. The study aims to illuminate the multi-faceted implications of China’s dual constitutional order and enhance understanding of Chinese law and governance.
Speaker：
Dr. Ling Li teaches Chinese politics and law at The University of Vienna. She had previously served as a law faculty member in China from 2000 to 2010, and subsequently as a Senior Research Fellow at New York University’s US–Asia Law Institute from 2010 to 2015. Dr. Li’s research centers on Chinese public law, legal institutions, elite politics, and the intricate “rules of the game” governing the Chinese Communist Party. As a prolific author, Dr. Li’s work on corruption, anti-corruption measures, and the Chinese political-legal systems has been widely cited by scholars and international media alike. Her recent publications include Order of Power in China’s Courts in the Asian Journal of Law and Society (2023), and her forthcoming monograph, Governance of a Party-State: Corruption, Law, and the Modus Operandi of the Chinese Communist Party, to be published by Cambridge University Press in 2025.
Chair:
Professor Sida Liu is Professor of Law and Sociology at The University of Hong Kong.
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