The Image of Power Transformation in the Structure of the Chinese Citizens Political Mentality in 2016

The article is devoted to system analysis of the transformation of power image of Chinese citizens in 2016 as a consequence of deep social and political changes under the influence of stable factors (China's political mentality) and changeable factors (the new policy of the PRC leadership). The most precise content of political mentality within our understanding reflects the structural model, which includes the following components: the core (the system of political values) and the periphery (political representation, political images, political attitudes and socio-political identity). The political power image is analyzed as a product of political mentality. The study was conducted by methods in-depth interviews and projective tests. The sample of the research consisted of 100 people – inhabitants of the southern part of China (56 respondents aged 21–35 years, 31 respondents aged 36–50 years, 10 respondents aged 51–70 years and 3 respondents over the age of 70 years). The study found that the new policy of the Chinese leadership and the strengthening of authoritarianism gave the effect opposite to the expected one. With increasing propaganda and personality cult, negative attitude to the leader of nation and to the authorities in general is increasing. Thus, a vague idea about the future of the country, the lack of a national idea is adjacent to a negative image of power and political elites and low estimation of their quality. This reflects both the political apathy of the dynamic part of the Chinese society, and the potential of ripening protest.