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The New Emperors: Power and the Princelings in China
China has become the powerhouse of the world economy and home to 1 in 5 of the world's population, yet we know almost nothing of the people who lead it. How does one become the leader of the world's newest superpower? And who holds the real power in the Chinese system? In The New Emperors, the noted China expert Kerry Brown journeys deep into the heart of the secretive Communist Party. China's system might have its roots in peasant rebellion but it is now firmly under the control of a power-conscious Beijing elite, almost half of whose members are related directly to former senior Party leaders. Brown reveals the intrigue and scandal surrounding the internal battle raging between two China' one founded by Mao on Communist principles, and a modern China in which 'to get rich is glorious'. At the centre of it all sits the latest Party Secretary, Xi Jinping - the son of a revolutionary, with links both to big business and to the People's Liberation Army. His rise to power is symbolic of the new emperors leading the world's next superpower.
256 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2013
7 people are currently reading
193 people want to read
About the author
Kerry Brown
86 books76 followersKerry Brown is an author, columnist, Professor of Chinese Studies and Director of the Lau China Institute at King's College, London.
*From Kerry's Website.*: Prior to this he was the Professor of Chinese Politcs and Director of the China Studies Centre at the University of Sydney. He led the Europe China Research and Advice Network(ECRAN) funded by the European Union from 2011 to 2014. He is an Associate Fellow on the Asia Programme at Chatham House, London. His main interests are in the politics and society of modern China, in its international relations and its political economy.
Educated at Cambridge (MA), London (Post Graduate Diploma in Chinese with Distinction) and Leeds Universities (Ph D), he worked in Japan and the Inner Mongolian region of China,before joining the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) in London in 1998. He worked in the China Section and then served as First Secretary, Beijing, from 2000 to 2003, and Head of the Indonesia East Timor Section at the FCO from 2003 to 2005.
Kerry Brown has been published in most major newspapers, commenting on China and Asia, including the New York Times, The Guardian, the Daily Telegraph, the Australian Financial Review, the Australian, the South China Morning Post, and the Financial Times. He has also been interviewed since 2006 by the BBC, Al Jazeera, CNN, Bloomberg, ABC and other outlets. He had undertaken consultancy for Mizuho Bank, BP, Oxford Analytica, Hakluyt, Tesco and other corporates.
*From Kerry's Website.*: Prior to this he was the Professor of Chinese Politcs and Director of the China Studies Centre at the University of Sydney. He led the Europe China Research and Advice Network(ECRAN) funded by the European Union from 2011 to 2014. He is an Associate Fellow on the Asia Programme at Chatham House, London. His main interests are in the politics and society of modern China, in its international relations and its political economy.
Educated at Cambridge (MA), London (Post Graduate Diploma in Chinese with Distinction) and Leeds Universities (Ph D), he worked in Japan and the Inner Mongolian region of China,before joining the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) in London in 1998. He worked in the China Section and then served as First Secretary, Beijing, from 2000 to 2003, and Head of the Indonesia East Timor Section at the FCO from 2003 to 2005.
Kerry Brown has been published in most major newspapers, commenting on China and Asia, including the New York Times, The Guardian, the Daily Telegraph, the Australian Financial Review, the Australian, the South China Morning Post, and the Financial Times. He has also been interviewed since 2006 by the BBC, Al Jazeera, CNN, Bloomberg, ABC and other outlets. He had undertaken consultancy for Mizuho Bank, BP, Oxford Analytica, Hakluyt, Tesco and other corporates.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
December 7, 2024
Warning: The following review contains some harshly worded criticisms aimed towards the chinese communist Party, and to an extent the current state of chinese society. While I stand by these words, it is also understandable that there might be those who feel offended by the sheer vitriol in these words. Acknowledged a certain amount of personal bias, I nonetheless present to you my thoughts, unfiltered. Read at your own discretion.
One of the best combinations in this world is PB&J on a piece of bread. One of the worst combinations, apparently, is an entitled, spoiled, rich kid of a ccp official, driving an expensive car bought with corrupt money. Which often ends up getting crashed in a drunken fit, killing some innocent unfortunate soul just minding their own business.
I suppose the second part could be said about any entitled, spoiled, drunk rich brat, crashing their daddy's expensive Ferrari or Lamborghini. In India for example, just this year there were two such instances in the same month.
It's almost become a time honored coming of age ritual worldwide. In India we have ‘Shehzaada/ Chote Maaliks’, In Korea they have ‘Chaebols’, and apparently the chinese have the princelings (Tàizǐdǎng). Only, in china, there is literally no consequence for their actions. Unless of course, one of their daddy’s political rivals wants to bring about his downfall.
I’m saying this while living in India, where politics and corruption are bosom buddies, so much so, a politician not screwing over his constituents is something of a miracle. But even here, there are systems in place to identify and prosecute such miscreants. It’s a whole separate matter that they’re abused judiciously.
But in china, there is no one to watch the watchmen. And the public unrest and critique which arises following such cases, are short lived in a police state where people are only allowed to say and think what the party has approved of. Bar of course the exception mentioned above.
I’ll be honest, after around page 90 or so, I skimmed a lot of the content. Partly, because it’s so dry and academic; not something I would recommend for an afternoon read. Partly, because the format is repeated regularly. I.e. Here’s the Party leader #13, who is in charge of so-&-so, here’s how many billions he has embezzled to make his family and cronies rich, here’s what happened to him. Which is either they were purged ruthlessly or became one of the power players in the ccp politburo. Or, you know, the current President.
Which is not to say that the book is uninteresting. It is jam packed with information about the key players in the ccp regime. The movers and shakers who decide the fate of 1.4 billion people. (At least at the time. The entity which poses as the chinese government is such a cutthroat game of thrones gladiatorial cesspool, that the people in power wax and wane depending on where the wind is blowing).
A lot of the biographies of these individuals end with either then being brought to ruination, fleeing the nation, or dying. Which is not surprising, considering how the current president xi jin ping has made one of the cornerstones of his administration, a nationwide anti-corruption campaign. Which, on the surface, is intended to root out corrupt officials embezzling the nation’s resources. But underneath, is a perfect way for president xi to bring down his opposition and political rivals.
To what end one might ask? Well, considering how the president has taken great pains to abolish the 10-year term limits of the general secretary, and established an ideological doctrine called the Xi Jinping thought, he might be on his way to revive the Mao-style cult of personality. You know, the one which gave us unforgettable hits like The great leap forward & everyone’s favoriteThe cultural revolution. Seeing as how the good emperor xi has been quite active in oppressing the people asking for reform in Hong Kong & Tibet, as well as oppressing close to a million ethnic Uyghurs in Xinjiang, he’s definitely following in the ‘great leader’s’ footsteps.
Another point of clarification. I picked up this book, mistaking it to be one regaling the readers with the unsightly exploits of the newest generation of entitled princelings, who get into trouble and use their daddy’s name to get out of trouble.
Instead, we mostly focus on the OG princelings, the ones who got power in the 80s after the dust settled on Mao’s cultural revolution. Which level the party and the nation in a precarious situation. That particular number was orchestrated by Mao, who at that point had devolved fully into a psychotic megalomaniac, to wait for it, wipe out his political rivals and anyone who might challenge his rule. The more you read, the more you realize that chinese history under the ccp, is the definition of insanity. Doing the same thing, over and over, through the ages, expecting a different outcome.
You know, I consider it to be one of the worst travesties of history, that Mao managed to achieve something that Hitler and Stalin never could; to not be reviled for his atrocious, inhumane actions. Despite numerically being the dictator who caused the most deaths, beating even his ‘peers’ and Genghis Khan. Hitler has become a name so reviled no one names their children that. Stalin comes close second (despite several communist in my home state thinking it to be a swell name for their children).
But Mao is revered as the great leader and continues to indoctrinate the minds of millions of chinese youths. Truly repulsive.
End of Rant.
The multigenerational rule by this authoritarian regime, as well as the countless atrocities that it has wrought, has resulted in a society that has by and large become morally bankrupt and indifferent to basic human suffering.
One where, when tragedy strikes, the so-called authorities are more concerned with covering up the news, to hide its true extent, rather than assist the victims and their families.
One where human life is worth less than rubble, to be written off if it doesn’t besmirch the country’s hollow honor.
One where vile human trait such as greed and hunger for power are promoted, while decent values such as empathy and kindness are ruthlessly suppressed and vilified. As evidenced by the slew of social reformers, activists and advocates for democracy who’re incarcerated or had to flee due to persecution.
It’s a fascinating read, but also quite revulsive.
Other than that, there is not much to say about the book. While somewhat outdated, it does provide a solid base for one to get started with the convoluted world of eternal power struggle and internal factionalism. Take a gander if you don’t mind the esoteric prose.
One of the best combinations in this world is PB&J on a piece of bread. One of the worst combinations, apparently, is an entitled, spoiled, rich kid of a ccp official, driving an expensive car bought with corrupt money. Which often ends up getting crashed in a drunken fit, killing some innocent unfortunate soul just minding their own business.
I suppose the second part could be said about any entitled, spoiled, drunk rich brat, crashing their daddy's expensive Ferrari or Lamborghini. In India for example, just this year there were two such instances in the same month.
It's almost become a time honored coming of age ritual worldwide. In India we have ‘Shehzaada/ Chote Maaliks’, In Korea they have ‘Chaebols’, and apparently the chinese have the princelings (Tàizǐdǎng). Only, in china, there is literally no consequence for their actions. Unless of course, one of their daddy’s political rivals wants to bring about his downfall.
I’m saying this while living in India, where politics and corruption are bosom buddies, so much so, a politician not screwing over his constituents is something of a miracle. But even here, there are systems in place to identify and prosecute such miscreants. It’s a whole separate matter that they’re abused judiciously.
But in china, there is no one to watch the watchmen. And the public unrest and critique which arises following such cases, are short lived in a police state where people are only allowed to say and think what the party has approved of. Bar of course the exception mentioned above.
I’ll be honest, after around page 90 or so, I skimmed a lot of the content. Partly, because it’s so dry and academic; not something I would recommend for an afternoon read. Partly, because the format is repeated regularly. I.e. Here’s the Party leader #13, who is in charge of so-&-so, here’s how many billions he has embezzled to make his family and cronies rich, here’s what happened to him. Which is either they were purged ruthlessly or became one of the power players in the ccp politburo. Or, you know, the current President.
Which is not to say that the book is uninteresting. It is jam packed with information about the key players in the ccp regime. The movers and shakers who decide the fate of 1.4 billion people. (At least at the time. The entity which poses as the chinese government is such a cutthroat game of thrones gladiatorial cesspool, that the people in power wax and wane depending on where the wind is blowing).
A lot of the biographies of these individuals end with either then being brought to ruination, fleeing the nation, or dying. Which is not surprising, considering how the current president xi jin ping has made one of the cornerstones of his administration, a nationwide anti-corruption campaign. Which, on the surface, is intended to root out corrupt officials embezzling the nation’s resources. But underneath, is a perfect way for president xi to bring down his opposition and political rivals.
To what end one might ask? Well, considering how the president has taken great pains to abolish the 10-year term limits of the general secretary, and established an ideological doctrine called the Xi Jinping thought, he might be on his way to revive the Mao-style cult of personality. You know, the one which gave us unforgettable hits like The great leap forward & everyone’s favoriteThe cultural revolution. Seeing as how the good emperor xi has been quite active in oppressing the people asking for reform in Hong Kong & Tibet, as well as oppressing close to a million ethnic Uyghurs in Xinjiang, he’s definitely following in the ‘great leader’s’ footsteps.
Another point of clarification. I picked up this book, mistaking it to be one regaling the readers with the unsightly exploits of the newest generation of entitled princelings, who get into trouble and use their daddy’s name to get out of trouble.
Instead, we mostly focus on the OG princelings, the ones who got power in the 80s after the dust settled on Mao’s cultural revolution. Which level the party and the nation in a precarious situation. That particular number was orchestrated by Mao, who at that point had devolved fully into a psychotic megalomaniac, to wait for it, wipe out his political rivals and anyone who might challenge his rule. The more you read, the more you realize that chinese history under the ccp, is the definition of insanity. Doing the same thing, over and over, through the ages, expecting a different outcome.
You know, I consider it to be one of the worst travesties of history, that Mao managed to achieve something that Hitler and Stalin never could; to not be reviled for his atrocious, inhumane actions. Despite numerically being the dictator who caused the most deaths, beating even his ‘peers’ and Genghis Khan. Hitler has become a name so reviled no one names their children that. Stalin comes close second (despite several communist in my home state thinking it to be a swell name for their children).
But Mao is revered as the great leader and continues to indoctrinate the minds of millions of chinese youths. Truly repulsive.
End of Rant.
The multigenerational rule by this authoritarian regime, as well as the countless atrocities that it has wrought, has resulted in a society that has by and large become morally bankrupt and indifferent to basic human suffering.
One where, when tragedy strikes, the so-called authorities are more concerned with covering up the news, to hide its true extent, rather than assist the victims and their families.
One where human life is worth less than rubble, to be written off if it doesn’t besmirch the country’s hollow honor.
One where vile human trait such as greed and hunger for power are promoted, while decent values such as empathy and kindness are ruthlessly suppressed and vilified. As evidenced by the slew of social reformers, activists and advocates for democracy who’re incarcerated or had to flee due to persecution.
It’s a fascinating read, but also quite revulsive.
Other than that, there is not much to say about the book. While somewhat outdated, it does provide a solid base for one to get started with the convoluted world of eternal power struggle and internal factionalism. Take a gander if you don’t mind the esoteric prose.
May 12, 2020
"China Twitter" has been embroiled in a debate over how to interpret Party speeches and propaganda outlets. Do these communications, curated for the public eye, express CCP policy intentions or are they merely a means of "playing nice" while secretly striving for power.
Kerry Brown nicely demonstrates that reading Qiushi, publicly available speeches, and the like is vitally important, while quoting Caro to remind us of the necessity of a skeptical eye, "When a man is climbing, trying to persuade others to give him power, concealment is necessary; to hide traits that might make others reluctant to give him power, to hide also what he wants to do with power; if men realized the traits or realized the aims they might refuse to give him what he wants. But as a man obtains more power, camouflage is less necessary. The curtain begins to rise. The revealing begins."
Brown further makes a convincing argument that the composition of standing committees is a reflection of political purpose, rather than an alchemy determined solely by family ties.
Read also for details about Yu Zhengsheng's father's affair with Jiang Qing and other elite (and gossipy) trivia.
But what does it mean for today?
Wolf-warriors to stage right, the curtain is rising.
Kerry Brown nicely demonstrates that reading Qiushi, publicly available speeches, and the like is vitally important, while quoting Caro to remind us of the necessity of a skeptical eye, "When a man is climbing, trying to persuade others to give him power, concealment is necessary; to hide traits that might make others reluctant to give him power, to hide also what he wants to do with power; if men realized the traits or realized the aims they might refuse to give him what he wants. But as a man obtains more power, camouflage is less necessary. The curtain begins to rise. The revealing begins."
Brown further makes a convincing argument that the composition of standing committees is a reflection of political purpose, rather than an alchemy determined solely by family ties.
Read also for details about Yu Zhengsheng's father's affair with Jiang Qing and other elite (and gossipy) trivia.
But what does it mean for today?
Wolf-warriors to stage right, the curtain is rising.
August 16, 2025
Prințișorii au ajuns la bani. Despre asta este vorba în acest volum. Găsim mecanismele și familiile care pe bază politică au devenit milionare în China comunistă. Pașii sunt simpli- bunicul comunist de rang mare, tatăl tot la fel iar fiul primește în baza acestui statut un monopot de import/export sau în această zonă. Comerțul exterior nu este liber în China ci este supus licențierilor. Licențe primesc doar cei care trebuie politic să primească. Așa se creează milionarii de partid, prințișorii despre care cartea face vorbire. Multe exemple și bine scrisă.
November 27, 2014
New Emperors, despite it's somewhat cliche'd title, is a truly academic work. Kerry Brown, a diplomat by trade has provided an incredibly insightful expose on the new line-up of Chinese Politics. A key theme of this book is networks and how people benefit from such networks, but it also contains unique insights into the now 7 member Politburo Standing Committee. Of course detailed information on Xinhua Jinping and Li Keqiang are included but also of note is info on the other 5, of particular interest being Wang Qishan.
The first part of the book contains much info on the strongly established Jiang Zemin network and how Xinhua Jumping was able to benefit from this via Zeng Qinghong. However, once Xinhua Jumping's rise is established, the book transfers it's interest to the role of the other 6, their background and networks and their current roles.
The concluding chapter offers an insight into the future for the Chinese Communist Party and how it can respond to the challenges it faces, which may be familiar to China observers, but a worthy read nonetheless.
Having read many books on contemporary China, this is by far and away the most detailed expose on the current leadership and essential reading for any would be Sinologists or followers of current events.
The first part of the book contains much info on the strongly established Jiang Zemin network and how Xinhua Jumping was able to benefit from this via Zeng Qinghong. However, once Xinhua Jumping's rise is established, the book transfers it's interest to the role of the other 6, their background and networks and their current roles.
The concluding chapter offers an insight into the future for the Chinese Communist Party and how it can respond to the challenges it faces, which may be familiar to China observers, but a worthy read nonetheless.
Having read many books on contemporary China, this is by far and away the most detailed expose on the current leadership and essential reading for any would be Sinologists or followers of current events.
May 19, 2023
While the makeup of China's Politburo Standing Committee has changed since it was written, this book is still a great source of information about the political happenings of early 2000's China, as seen through the narrow lens of the buildup to the 18th National Congress. While informative, however, the book does become rather bland and academic, ponderously repeating itself about 'muh networks' and 'muh narrative' and reciting the politicians' political history and assignments to various bureaus with the thrilling pace of a Wikipedia article. The reader who will benefit from this book the most will already have a basic knowledge of modern Chinese history - if you're going to be googling 'Cultural Revolution was what' while reading, you'll soon find yourself completely lost.
February 6, 2019
Offers a little insight into the nature of elite CPC politics and the specific interactions that have led them to today, but the arguments within are not very deep or compelling, and the information is also dated as of now as PSC membership has already changed.
Brown makes the valid point that factionalism is a little senseless to think about and instead urges us to think about the lives of the politicians in the PSC and their individual motivations, but the picture he draws out is not particularly deep or illustrative and can essentially be echoed as "they are people and are motivated by things that people are motivated by!", so... Isn't that common sense?
Maybe not such a great job at interpreting the facts, but at least the author didn't do a bad job at summarizing some interesting information about CPC.
Brown makes the valid point that factionalism is a little senseless to think about and instead urges us to think about the lives of the politicians in the PSC and their individual motivations, but the picture he draws out is not particularly deep or illustrative and can essentially be echoed as "they are people and are motivated by things that people are motivated by!", so... Isn't that common sense?
Maybe not such a great job at interpreting the facts, but at least the author didn't do a bad job at summarizing some interesting information about CPC.
April 12, 2022
In terms of the framework it provides to understand the Chinese politics it is good. But interpretation of language used is phew. Also, one needs to have a background knowledge of Chinese Cultural Revolution history to some extent. Otherwise, a fairly good read. It would be interesting to know the authors view on current leadership, achievements and actions which reinforces or refutes the ideas he covered in the book
July 8, 2018
“People’s Congress publicly admitted that year, China was spending USD 5 billion more a year on protecting it from itself than on safeguarding itself against the aggressive intent of outsiders.”
The insightful guide to understand the complexities of Chinese government in the modern context which contains analysis on top Chinese leaders
The insightful guide to understand the complexities of Chinese government in the modern context which contains analysis on top Chinese leaders
July 28, 2018
Entertaining for those willing to learn about the network and background of public figures, completely boring for those with only a superficial interest in the topic.
August 26, 2023
里面关于中国政治派系的讲解比较系统，很有启发性。
September 12, 2020
This book is informative, but so, so dry. The insights it offers can be easily lost among the interminable lists of Chinese names and places, which to my uncouth eye are hard to discern and especially remember. It does offer interesting information on how power flows in China, which is unfortunately buried under the usual social science platitudes that this type of book is almost mandated to have.
April 11, 2015
A very readable account of how China's leadership has changed over time. The most interesting sections are those that go into the backgrounds of the 7 members of China's current Standing Committee.
October 11, 2016
Concise and insightful into the complexities of power in modern China, making the stand that ideology and belief in a one-party system is as important a determiner as networks of patronage, factions, etc. Politburo Standing Committee as representatives of vested interests in society and Party.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews