Student governments in Chinese higher education: reflection on college students’ and student cadres’ political trust

Abstract This paper documents the structure and operations of student governments in contemporary Chinese higher education their effect on college students’ political trust party membership. We first investigate power distribution within universities, specifically focusing autonomy degree to which they represent students. Second, using a large sample students, we examine how participating government affects Our results show that possesses complex, hierarchical matrix with two main parallel systems—the union Communist Party system. found is rather uneven, organisations are affiliated have an unequal share power. In addition, cadre experience highly appreciated elections, being significantly membership during college.