Comparisons, Paradigms and the Remnant of Division: Our Approach

This chapter will present the theoretical framework of our book, that is, a paradigmatic approach that moves beyond linear comparison. Based on this approach, we will present our research questions: How is it that Chinese officials will be “socialized” into the practices and norms of extant institutions for the purpose of fulfilling the potential of the China Dream? In other words, how is the China Dream discourse operationalized through Party instruments, namely the communist members? In this chapter, we will contextualize the discourse and explain its articulation in three interdependent subdiscursive fields: anti-corruption, anti-four undesirable working styles and the Mass Line Education Programme.