Some observers describe China as an authoritarian regime or dictatorship. China is often perceived in these terms due to the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) apparent control over every aspect of China’s political life. Are there elements of democracy in China’s political system? What are the implications of the recent constitutional amendment removing presidential term limits? What role does public opinion play in shaping the Chinese government's policies and behaviour?

John Keane, Professor of Politics at the University of Sydney, joins Bob Carr, Director of the Australia-China Relations Institute (ACRI) at the University of Technology Sydney to discuss his new book, 'When trees fall, monkeys scatter' (World Scientific, 2017) which explores the concept of China’s ‘phantom democracy’ and argues that the one-party system enjoys surprising levels of public support and resilience.