China’s remarkable economic growth from the early 1980s to the early 2020s underscores the capability of the communist system there to succeed in fostering development, particularly when it comes to escaping poverty and bypassing the middle-income trap.

This book charts the experiences of the Communist Party of China (CPC) since its 20th-century inception, showcasing the broader applicability of communist party governance. Beyond the CPC, it delves into the origins of Marxist and Leninist theories, the history of communist party governance in Russia and the Soviet Union - the first major power to be governed by a communist party system - and the subsequent implementation of communist party rule elsewhere, including Russia, Eastern Europe and, most notably, in China.

The narrative emphasises the need for continuous evolution, adaptation and localisation of early Marxist-Leninist theory to meet the contemporary needs of effective communist party governance.