The Party's Disciples: CCP Reserve Cadres and the Perpetuation of a Resilient Authoritarian Regime

摘要

This article discusses the origin and consolidation of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) reserve cadre system and considers its impact on the resilience and perpetuation of the Party's authoritarian regime. Reserve cadres are essentially the Party's "disciples"; through careful selection and training, the CCP is able to build a legion of youthful political elites with exceptional administrative ability and correct political thinking. Upon assumption of Party and government posts, these reserve cadres are able to reinforce the Party's autonomy and resist outside pressures to democratize, thereby manifesting the very nature of a resilient authoritarian regime.%本文讨论了後备干部的制度起源、深化，以及它对於韧性威权政体存续的影响。後备干部彷佛是党的「门徒」，中共透过刻意的挑选与锻炼，将後备干部打造成政治思想正确，具备年龄优势，以及优越行政能力的菁英群体。一旦他们进入到重要党政职务，将有助於强化党的自主性，抵御民主化压力，并从而显露出韧性威权政体的本质。