China's Ruling Elite: The Complex Cycles of Power offers an unflinching look inside the world's most powerful political system. With the second largest economy, over 1.4 billion people, and a history spanning five millennia, China's global influence is undeniable. But what goes on behind its carefully controlled curtain? In this incisive examination, Dr Carol Tung Tung Fan Black explores the evolution of China's ruling elite since 1949, with the Communist Party of China as the central thread. She pulls back the veil on China's sweeping military, political and societal reforms, revealing the hidden power dynamics that define its leadership. Through the lens of promotion, corruption, surveillance and dominance, China's Ruling Elite: The Complex Cycles of Power shows how the Party's tight grip shapes every facet of life - from politics and business to the military, the media, and beyond. In a society defined by organised dependence and a dual power system - where the Communist Party and National People's Congress coexist in a delicate balance - Ruling Elite: The Complex Cycles of Power offers a compelling exploration of a nation at its pinnacle and asks: What's next for China's rulers - and the powerhouse they have created? About the Author Born in Beijing in 1961, Dr. Carol Tung Tung Fan Black was a political economist with a deep understanding of Chinese governance and elite structures. Fluent in Mandarin, Cantonese and Shanghainese, she earned a PhD in Economics and an MBA in International Relations in the UK. Her career spanned business, translation and high-level project management, including work involving the Chinese military and government institutions. Dr. Black dedicated the last five years of her life to researching and writing this book, which was completed just before her passing in 2021. It stands as a lasting testament to her insight, scholarship and lifelong engagement with China's political system. Version This is the case laminate hardcover version.