This ODI Opinion reflects on transition to a new Chinese leadership.  Charting the rise and fall of Bo Xilai in China's political arena, discussion explores the value placed on charisma in generating legitimate and credible leadership.

Discussion suggests that what we are seeing in China, a country that has achieved some phenomenal developmental progress in the last 30 years, may suggest to some degree a broad rejection of charisma as a legitimating feature of political rule.