It is possible for cadres to become inured to radical changes if they occur in subtle degrees over time. Just like the frog who is put in a pot of water which is set over fire and slowly reaches its boiling point.
You can join an organization with total commitment and not be sensitive to it turning into something you would have heretofore rejected as totally rotten, if the process is highly drawn out over a long period of time.
There is no absolute authoritarianism, except in science fiction. Inside any organized group, like a State, must be some basis for allegiance that is supported voluntarily by enough people to keep the infernal thing going.
The simple reality is that if, as was posted by I remember not who, at least half of GDP in the PRC is now produced by non-governmental bodies, the classification of what China is relative to other mixed economies must be reconsidered. Explaining what the Chinese government does or doesn't say about it is secondary.
mbs
Max,
Anyway, why do you think leaders of China deny or won't admit that they are going capitalist and not socialist ? Since the Communist Party is all powerful, and rules with an authoritarian,non-democratic way, why don't they just force everybody to accept that China is capitalist or going capitalist ? Who is it they have to worry about preventing them from going capitalist if they openly say they are going capitalist ? Is it that they don't know they are going capitalist ? Charles