From Commercialization to Conglomeration: The Transformation of the Chinese Press Within the Orbit of the Party State

• DOI: 10.1111/j.1460-2466.2000.tb02839.x
• Publication Date: 2006-03-17T10:21:19Z
• Authors: Yuezhi Zhao
• Keywords: Orbit (dynamics)

This paper examines the trajectory of Chinese Communist party-controlled press commercialization in China and discusses active role state incorporating market-based forms practices into existing structure. Although market-oriented developments past 2 decades have created a dynamic mass appeal sector catering to urban middle class, it has also inadvertently led fragmented decentralized structure that undermined core party organs their capital accumulation. Consequently, engineered market rationalization campaign pushed for conglomeration. Both are aimed at enhancing political control on one hand facilitating capitalization other. These not only counter-intuitive laissez-faire notions free markets versus control, but profound implications emerging class power relations China.