1. CHINA

3. Why China? China is a capitalistic communist country
It did a SINGLE TRANSITION…just economic— will it lead to political change? It always has…
Authoritarian, one party state
Most important economy in the world

4. Overview: The Big Picture
System of Government: Authoritarian Single Party Rule
Distribution of Power: Unitary System
Electoral System: Is there one? Authoritarian One Party
Constitution: 1982
Legislature: Unicameral
Current Head of Party and State: President Hu Jintao
Head of Government: Prime Minister Wen Jiabao
Current Ruling Party: Communist Party
Major Political Parties: …..

5. Things To Remember: Communist China is only 60 years old…young
China has had 4000 years of authoritarian rule
Communism is a perfect fit for authoritarian historical tradition.
China is only half communist—politically
Economically China is a free market freak

6. Political Culture: The Chinese Mind
Dynastic Rule for 4,000 YEARS
Confucianism: Social harmony based appropriate behavior within hierarchy.
Maoism 1949
Strongly influenced by Marx and Lenin but his version of communism was distinctly Chinese
Whereas Lenin emphasized the the importance of the party vanguard to lead people to revolution and beyond, Mao resisted the inequity implied by Lenin’s beliefs

7. Political Culture: The Chinese Mind
Collectivism
Valuing the good of the community above that of the individual
Egalitarianism
Hierarchy was the key organizing principle before 1949—Confucianism
Mao’s emphasis on creating an egalitarian society was in complete opposition to it
Self-Reliance
Instead of relying on the elite to give directions, people under Maoist rule were encouraged to rely on their own talents to contribute to their communities

8. Political Culture: The Chinese Mind
Deng Xiaoping Theory
He didn’t worry too much about whether a policy was capitalist or socialist as long as it improved the economy.
So……as long as he (they) they stayed in power, so what….
Ahh, so it’s all about power…imagine that from a politician.
Mao
Deng

9. Political Culture: The Chinese Mind
Deng Xiaoping Theory
The result of his leadership was a dramatic turnaround of the Chinese economy through a combination of socialist planning and the capitalist free market
His political and social views remained true to communist tradition—the party should supervise all, and no allowance should be made for individual freedoms and/or democracy

10. Current Policy Challenges
While economic liberalization has taken place, the government has firmly suppressed organized challenges to the Communist Party
Handful of leaders at the top monopolize the authority to choose what inputs from what groups are acceptable
The rules of the game are not transparent
Hong Kong—clashes over western oriented population who have enjoyed political rights
Taiwan—political unification
Non-Han minorities, such as the Tibetans, challenge Chinese nationalism

11. Social Conditions Huge population
World’s most populous country
Most live in the countryside, but now that is only 57% compared to 85% in 1980
Rural industrialization and growth of towns
Rural collective industry is the most dynamic industrial sector
The population is concentrated in the eastern third of the land
Only ¼ of China’s land is arable
The problem of feeding the large population is expected to continue
China is a multiethnic state
92 percent of Chinese are ethnically Han, but there are fifty-five recognized ethnic minorities, ranging in number from a few thousand to more than 16 million.

12. History of PRC
At first China looked to Soviet Union for implementation strategy--FAILED
Soviet Like Structures
Central bureaucracy of planning agencies
Nationalized industry
Built collective farms
Tolerated no dissent once directives were articulated
Implemented many campaigns to mobilize the mass with compulsory participation
Hundred Flowers Campaign
Example of relaxation of control over dissent, only to be overturned
“Enemies of the state” declarations common and millions were imprisoned or killed
Chinese Soviet Split
1950s cooling off period between China and Soviet Union
partially due to Soviet unwillingness to help with Chinese nuclear program

13. The Great Leap Forward
Great Leap Forward ( ) was a utopian effort to transform China into a radical egalitarian society. MAINLY ECONOMIC!
Attempt by Mao to free China from Soviet domination
Campaign requested that citizens abandon material rewards and needs for moral reasons
FAILED: Mao’s efforts ran counter to the traditional political culture (bureaucratic centralism), and the people lacked the skills to contribute to industrialization
Failure Lead to Cultural Revolution

14. Cultural Revolution
The Cultural Revolution ( ) was a much more profound reform in that it encompassed political and social change, as well as economic
Campaign driven by anti-Western rhetoric--Western material goods were destroyed (he found and enemy)
Citizens were tried for crime of being “capitalist roader” or siding with the West
All Chinese were forced to be involved
Schools were closed as youth were expected to join the movement
FAILED! By late 1960s the citizens had taken the campaign to new height and the country neared anarchy
Mao died in 1976

15. Cultural Revolution: AFTER
Mao died in 1976
Deng Xiaoping Theory!
“It doesn’t matter of the cat is black or white, as long as it catches mice.”
Retreated from Cultural Revolution
Changed the direction of economic policy in China
Allowed foreign investment (special economic zones)
Privatized industry
Relaxed some of political controls imposed by Mao

16. Structure of the Party State
“Parliamentary System under single party control”
“Nothing really matters but the party”
Design Features
The basis of the idea was that the party’s claim to legitimate rule is not based on representation of the preferences of the majority, but on representation of the “historical best interests” of all people—the idea being that the populace does not know its own best interest, but the party does….isn’t that brilliant!

17. Structure of the Party-State
Party Organization
Democratic Centralism – Leninist principle
This means that democracy exists only at the center of decision making, but once a decision is made no dissent is tolerated.
Centralism never sacrificed to democracy
There are official government structures in China, but the real power lies with the party
Two Hierarchies, with Party Leadership
Government structures are more or less duplicated at each level of the political system by Communist Party structures
In principle, there is a division of labor between party and gov’t structures
In practice, two perform similar functions with overlapping responsibilities
But with the party being the main policymaker

19. Government Structures
National People’s Congress (NPC): Legislative Functions
Elected for five-year terms by delegates in provincial-level congresses and the armed forces
Assemble once annually for a plenary session of about two weeks
Always large body
Formally has extensive powers: amendment of the constitution, passage and amendment of legislation, approval of economic plans,etc.
Is it a rubber-stamp assembly? Was during Maoist years, but now….
It is still too large and meets too infrequently, but the lawmaking role of the less cumbersome NPC Standing Committee seems to be gaining.

20. Government Structures
NPC Standing Committee
When NPC is not in session (almost all the time), the NPC Standing Committee serves as working legislative assembly
150 members, all reside in Beijing
Meets regularly throughout year
Exercises most formal powers of NPC and prepares agenda for annual NPC plenary sessions.

21. Government Structures
State Council: Executive Functions
In lawmaking, State Council is center of gov’t activity
Composed the premier, who is head of government, and his cabinet of vice-premiers, state councilors, ministers, auditor general, and secretary general
State Council Standing Committee, which meets twice weekly
As in most parliamentary systems, the bulk of legislation is drafted by specialized ministries and commissions under the direction of the cabinet
President- Head of State – purely ceremonial office

22. Government Structures
Judiciary:
Supreme People’s Court
Supreme People’s Procuratorate
Bridge between public security agencies and the courts
Communist Party Leadership
The Communist Party exercises direct leadership over government and legislative functions in a variety of ways
In short, the Chinese system is executive-led government, but with an important difference having to do with the Communist Government.

23. Party Structures Central Committee
Exercises power of National Party Congress between sessions
Elected by the National Party Congress
CC elects Politburo, Politburo Standing Committee and party general secretary.
Collection of the most powerful several hundred political leaders in the country
Members hold major positions of leadership, as ministers in the state bureaucracy or provincial party leaders.
Membership reflects political power, not confer it
They do not initiate policy but changes in policy or leaders at the political center must be approved by it
They endorse and are responsible to realize party policy

24. Party Structures Politburo Politburo Standing Committee
Top political elite, usually no more than a couple dozen leaders
Most have a responsibility for overseeing policy making in some issue area
Elected by the Central Committee
Politburo Standing Committee
typically no more than a half- dozen leaders who meet once weekly
core political decision makers in China
selected from the Politburo
General Secretary - Top leader—position held by Hu Jintao

25. Party Structures Top Leader and the Succession Problem
Death of leader creates succession problem in most communist countries
There is no formal or generally acknowledged position of second-in-command and no regularized mechanism to chose a new top leader.
1970s Communist Party elders were reinstated after years of forced retirement under Mao and Cultural Revolution
Party Bureaucracy
The Secretariat monitors the bureaucracy and provides a staff for the Politburo to carry out decisions

27. Political Socialization
Mass Media
Ordinary citizens now exposed to news and opinions about public affairs
Hong Kong
Relatively free and critical mass media
Chinese journalists expose government wrongdoings and thwart official efforts to suppress news of disasters.
Chinese leaders reserve the right to shut down publications that in their view go too far.
Internet: 50,000 cyber police; still difficult to monitor
Education System
Past: very ideological; persecution of scholars
Today: respect for expertise
Fall 2006 reduced the seven compulsory courses on political ideology and party history to four, in the first major curricular change in twenty-five years.

28. Policy Performance Population Control Perverse outcomes
Little regulation during Maoist years; 1978 population close to a billion
One-child family policy
State-sponsored family planning added to the constitution
Most couples required to stop childbearing after one or two births
Married couples in urban areas restricted to one child
In rural areas, married couples are subject to rules that differ across provinces. In some, two children permitted. In others, only one child permitted; in most provinces, a second child is permitted only if the first is a girl.
Difficult to implement; many sons ideal: a married daughter joins the household of her husband, while a married son remains in the household to support aging parents.
Perverse outcomes
Shortage of girls
Sex-selective & forced abortions

29. Hong Kong
1842 and 1860, the island of Hong Kong, and adjacent territory on the Chinese mainland, were ceded by treaty to the British in perpetuity.
1984, the Chinese communist authorities elaborated the principle of “one country, two systems” applicable to Hong Kong after 1997.
Hong Kong reverted to Chinese sovereignty in 1997 but would continue to enjoy a “high degree of autonomy.”
Chinese authorities hope the outcome will woo Taiwan back to the PRC, too.

30. Taiwan
Governed by the Nationalists as the Republic of China since 1945
100 miles off the east coast of the Chinese mainland.
Two major events affected Taiwan’s status
Lost its membership in the U.N. and its seat on the Security Council to China in 1971
U.S. recognized China diplomatically, downgrading the relationship with Taiwan to one of unofficial liaison
Today fewer than 30 countries recognize Taiwan.
Taiwan’s public does not support unification.

31. China’s Political Future
Still primarily a communist state
Authoritarianism has not survived intact with economic modernization in many East Asian countries.
Prediction: The party will continue to transform China in the years to come and to transform itself in order to continue to rule.