In Wealth into Power, Bruce J. Dickson challenges the notion thateconomic development is leading to political change in China or thatChina’s private entrepreneurs are helping to promote democratization.Instead, they have become partners with the ruling Chinese CommunistParty to promote economic growth while maintaining the political statusquo. Dickson’s research illuminates the Communist Party’s strategyfor incorporating China’s capitalists into the political system and showshow the shared interests, personal ties, and common views of the partyand the private sector are creating a form of “crony communism.”Rather than being potential agents of change, China’s entrepreneursmay prove to be a key source of support for the party’s agenda. Basedon years of research and original survey data, this book will be of interestto all those interested in China’s political future and the relationshipbetween economic wealth and political power.