Civil service leadership selection in China: historical evolution and current status

Purpose – The aim of this paper is to examine the evolution and development of the selection process and methods used by the Chinese government for appointing public officials. Design/methodology/approach – The paper adopts an approach combining literature and document reviews with discussion with field experts. Findings – China has a long history of selecting the most able individuals for government officials. During the political turmoil of the twentieth century, this was abandoned for ideological reasons. Current selection criteria and process are increasingly based on solid psychology and management approaches. Research limitations/implications – This paper is an overview of developments in Chinese government official selection approaches and process. Practical implications – It may serve as a baseline for future research and practice on exploring sound and institutionalized selection methods and processes. Originality/value – This is an initial attempt to explore senior Chinese officials' selection process.