China's Deng Xiaoping on Collective Leadership

Deng Xiaoping (邓小平) believed that collective leadership (集体领导) was the cornerstone of the Chinese Communist Party’s (#CCP) stability and long-term success. In this podcast, we explore 15 key statements from Deng’s speeches and writings (1938–1992), each in Chinese and English, with historical context and analysis.

Learn why #Deng warned against over-centralization of power, personal cults (个人崇拜), and policy instability — and how his principles remain relevant in China’s governance today.

Deng Xiaoping, 集体领导, collective leadership, CCP history, #Chinese politics, 邓小平文选, Deng Xiaoping speeches, democratic centralism, 民主集中制, political leadership, China governance, Chinese Communist Party, reform and opening, Chinese history podcast, CCP leadership structure, anti-personality cult, 个人崇拜

Chinese Original (with Pinyin) English Translation Volume Page (1994 edition) Context
1 “只有通过集体领导，密切联系群众，才能贯彻党的民主集中制原则，把错误减少到最低限度。”
Zhǐyǒu tōngguò jítǐ lǐngdǎo, mìqiè liánxì qúnzhòng, cáinéng guànchè dǎng de mínzhǔ-jízhōngzhì yuánzé, bǎ cuòwù jiǎnshǎo dào zuìdī xiàndù. Only through collective leadership, in close contact with the masses, can we apply the Party’s principle of democratic centralism and minimize mistakes. I ~p. 212 Report on Party Constitution revision (1956)

2 “过分集中于个人或少数人手里……损害各级党和政府的民主生活、集体领导、民主集中制、个人分工负责制。” Over-concentration of power in one person or a few harms democratic life, collective leadership, democratic centralism, and individual responsibility. II ~p. 310 On leadership reform (1980)

3 “集体领导与个人分工负责 应当结合在一起。” Collective leadership should be combined with divided responsibility for individuals. II ~p. 315 Structural reform discussions (1980)

4 “必须制度化集体领导，把它作为党内政治生活和制度建设的重要内容来抓。” Collective leadership must be institutionalized and treated as a crucial part of intra-Party politics and system building. II ~p. 338 Institutional reform (early 1980s)

5 “在党的各级机关和基层都要真正实行集体领导，改正名义集体领导实为个人说了算的错误。” At all Party levels we must truly implement collective leadership and correct the error of “nominal collective leadership” where one person actually decides everything. II ~p. 340 Emphasis on grassroots enforcement (1980s)

6 “列宁说过：‘借口集体领导而无人负责，是最危险的祸害’……急需建立严格责任制。” Lenin said: “Using collective leadership as an excuse for no one being responsible is the greatest of evils”… we urgently need strict accountability systems. II ~p. 322 Invoking Lenin to warn of diffuse responsibility

7 “过分个人集权……妨碍社会主义民主实践，妨碍党的民主集中制的实行，妨碍发挥集体智慧。” Excessive personal centralization impedes socialist democracy, implementation of democratic centralism, and utilization of collective wisdom. II ~p. 318 Critique of personalization of power

8 “我们强调集体领导，这次讲接班也是集体接班……集体领导负责重大问题。” We emphasize collective leadership; succession must also be collective… the collective handles major issues. III ~p. 42 On leadership transition (1989)

9 “我们中国共产党现在要建立起第三代的领导集体……任何一个领导集体都要有一个核心。” Our Party must now build a third-generation leadership collective… Every leadership collective must have a core. III ~p. 43 16 June 1989 talk (“Third-gen collective”)
reformdata.org

10 “一个好的领导班子……关键是要形成集体领导……要相互容忍、谦让、帮助、补充。” A good leadership team… must form collective leadership… tolerate, yield, help, and complement each other. III ~p. 44 Qualities of effective leadership collective

11 “中央领导必须有威信。改革必须在有领导、有秩序下进行。” Central leadership must have authority. Reforms must proceed under leadership and with order. III ~p. 38 Stability during reform (1988)

12 “只有坚持集体领导，才能保证政策连续性与稳定，避免把国家命运寄托在一两个人身上。” Only by upholding collective leadership can we ensure policy continuity and stability, avoiding entrusting the nation’s fate to one or two individuals. III ~p. 50 Thematic summary of Volume III crises

13 “集体领导与群众密切联系，才能避免错误、走偏路。” Collective leadership, closely linked to the masses, can prevent mistakes and deviations. II ~p. 212 Echoes the 16-word principle application

14 “一个领导集体要有核心，但核心不是个人称雄，而是集中力量办大事。” A leadership collective needs a core—but the core shouldn’t be a domineering individual; it should concentrate efforts on accomplishing big tasks. III ~p. 45 Clarifying “core” vs. “dictator”

15 “接班要制度化，坚持集体领导、民主集中、个别酝酿、会议决定的原则。” Succession should be institutionalized, adhering to the principles of collective leadership, democratic centralism, individual preparation, and decision through meetings.
III ~p. 48 Institutionalizing leadership transitions