There are various theoretical as well as empirical lenses in order to study the China’s pathway towards success and glory. All these perspectives provide a distinct lens though they all agree on the central argument, China represents a unique case in the history of mankind, in a way that they have managed to rose from the ashes and are now in a position to challenge the dominance of the hegemon despite all the challenges. The story of Chinese greatness is incomplete without the role of central leadership. They all have proved themselves prudent and far-sighted which is clearly evident from their contributions. Mao Zedong, the father of modern China, is although a controversial figure, his Great Leap Forward programme and Cultural Revolution did not prove as successful as he envisioned. But from achieving independence for his nation, saving them from Japanese imperial tendencies, and building the efficient communist institutions, his role cannot be denied.

Moving further, the vision of Deng Xiaoping provides the most interesting case study. Taking lessons from USSR, he adopted the policy of economic integration in the western led financial system while keeping the authoritarian and centralized control in the political system intact. The policy came under great scrutiny at that time but it has survived the test of time and can be considered as the turning point in the history of Chinese success trajectory. In the list of key leaders, Xi Jinping emerged as another significant leader. His ascendence to power reveals his commitment to the cause. China during the reign of Xi has witnessed a steady growth as the economic trends were not that sharp if compared to the previous tenures. However, it does not mean that China has forgotten its destiny, as the communist control over power corridors has further aggravated. During Xi’s rule, China has extensively embarked on the routes of decentralized authoritarianism, the policy which has largely served in the case of China. It not only tightened the control of Chinese Communist Party on the government structure, however also gave the lower cadre the opportunity to express themselves fully within the Chinese state system.