Part 8/10:
Yet Xi's tenure has seen increasing authoritarianism and a heightened intolerance for dissent, straying from the established contract aimed at economic prosperity. The slowing economy, high levels of corruption, and environmental degradation put pressure on this social fabric. Mass protests sparked by issues like the zero-COVID policy signal public unrest that contradicts the anticipated stability promised by Xi. Citizens are beginning to question whether the CCP can uphold its end of the social contract as economic conditions worsen and individual rights continue to diminish.