Political Prisoners in the People's Republic of China: How Does International Pressure Impact Their Cases?

Abstract

Does international human rights pressure impact outcomes for political prisoners in the People’s Republic of China? Despite the sheer volume of political prisoners in China, existing studies on this topic are very limited, and rely on quantitative methods. Through a series of 14 elite interviews with experts from the field of human rights, Chinese law, and Chinese dissidents, I address this question and test existing findings in the literature. Drawing on insights from my interviews I make four arguments about how international pressure can impact China’s political prisoners. Firstly, I find that international pressure can be effective in improving outcomes for political prisoners in China, but that the definition of success considered by ex-prisoners and human rights practitioners is much broader than just considering early releases. Secondly, I identify why the Chinese Communist Party responds to the pressure it receives, using these findings to direct a strategy of when human rights pressure can be most effective. I then consider the effectiveness of international pressure towards China’s political prisoners over time, identifying several domestic and external events that have contributed to China's increased resilience to human rights efforts. Finally, I assess the range of factors that contribute to how politically valuable the regime deems an individual prisoner, and how this relates to their outcome. My research contributes to our understanding of political imprisonment in China by providing direct insights from experts who have either faced political imprisonment in China, studied the system, or have worked directly on prisoners' cases. By speaking with these experts, I am able to bring a new perspective to the literature about how international pressure can work to improve the outcomes of political prisoners in China.