From Hu’s Outward-Looking Pragmatism to Xi’s Ambitious Nationalist Leninism: Contrasting Agendas in Politburo Collective Study Sessions

This article examines the changes in policy orientations in China since the 2000s. It explores whether these changes are influenced by China’s shifting relative power or by leadership transitions. The analysis focuses on the agenda of the Politburo Collective Study Session (PCSS) during the Hu Jintao and Xi Jinping eras. This article reveals a shift from outward-looking pragmatism in Hu’s era to ambitious nationalistic Leninism in Xi’s era. These distinct policy orientations persisted throughout their 10-year rule, despite changing international environments and China’s economic growth. This underscores the significance of leadership in shaping policy orientations in China.