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Hong Kong Political Science Association Conference 2009 Legitimacy and the PRC’s 60 th Anniversary The PRC’s 60 th Anniversary: The Making of Legitimacy 20/08/2009 Florian Schneider & Jay Hwang
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Legitimacy and the PRC’s 60th Anniversary The PRC’s 60 · Legitimacy and the PRC’s 60th Anniversary Legitimacy and Chinese Politics • The Concept of Legitimacy: Max Weber:

Oct 23, 2020

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  • Hong

    Kon

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    2009

    Legitimacy and the PRC’s 60th Anniversary

    The PRC’s 60th

    Anniversary:

    The Making of

    Legitimacy

    20/08/2009 Florian Schneider & Jay Hwang

  • Hong

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    Legitimacy and the PRC’s 60th Anniversary

    Overview• The Concept of Legitimacy and Chinese Politics

    • Discourse Analysis of Staged Events

    • The PRC’s 60th Anniversary in Perspective

    Maoist Traditions and the Symbols of Power

    Tales of Modernity and Welfare

    Appealing to Patriotic Sentiments

    Expanding the Narrative: Revival of Traditions

    • (Preliminary) Conclusions

    20/08/2009 Florian Schneider & Jay Hwang 2

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    Legitimacy and the PRC’s 60th Anniversary

    Legitimacy and Chinese Politics• The Concept of Legitimacy:

    Max Weber:

    Legitimacy is the chance to attain acceptance for

    specific commands or a general political order from a

    given group of persons.

    • Non-normative concept:

    The question is not, whether a political order is morally

    acceptable or adheres to preconceived standards of

    efficiency.

    • Consequent question:

    How do political actors create acceptance for their

    actions and the system they represent?

    20/08/2009 Florian Schneider & Jay Hwang 3

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    Legitimacy and the PRC’s 60th Anniversary

    Legitimacy and Chinese Politics• Explaining “Authoritarian Resilience”:

    Traditional Explanations:

    • Legitimacy through ideology (Marxism-Leninism-Maoism).

    • Legitimacy through nationalism and national glory.

    • Legitimacy through welfare (economic growth).

    • Legitimacy through improved governance.

    • Legitimacy through co-operation with (“co-option” of?) a

    wide range of social groups (such as business elites and

    religious groups).

    Recent Additional Arguments:

    20/08/2009 Florian Schneider & Jay Hwang 4

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    2009

    Legitimacy and the PRC’s 60th Anniversary

    Discourse Analysis of Staged Events• The Concept of Discourse:

    Analyzing Political Communication Processes:

    • Discourse: Communication practices that over time

    establish what is commonly held to be true.

    • Discourses are created and held in place by power relations.

    • Discourses can be expressed in various areas of society

    (homes, schools, bars, newspapers, government agencies,

    universities, etc.).

    • Discourses are expressed through all possible forms of

    communication (speech, writing, images, sounds, music,

    gestures, architecture, etc.).

    20/08/2009 Florian Schneider & Jay Hwang 5

  • Hong

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    Legitimacy and the PRC’s 60th Anniversary

    Discourse Analysis of Staged Events• Staged Events and Performance:

    Ritualizing Discourse:

    • Staged events reach a broad range of audiences in various

    ways (first-hand witnesses, secondary audiences, tertiary

    audiences).

    • Staged events assemble discourses, usually in a accessible

    and easily communicated way (through rituals and symbols).

    • Staged events make use of mass-communication, relaying

    their message through a broad range of different media

    types .

    20/08/2009 Florian Schneider & Jay Hwang 6

  • Hong

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    Legitimacy and the PRC’s 60th Anniversary

    Discourse Analysis of Staged Events• Focus of Analysis:

    Qualitative Analysis of:

    • Main festivities (military and civilian parades).

    • Film and TV contributions.

    • News paper and magazine features.

    • “Activities” surrounding the anniversary.

    20/08/2009 Florian Schneider & Jay Hwang 7

  • Hong

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    Legitimacy and the PRC’s 60th Anniversary

    The 60th Anniversary in Perspective• Maoist Traditions and the Symbols of the Nation:

    Rituals of Power and Service:

    • Demonstrating the ability to provide security.

    1984

    • Creating a sense of unity.

    20/08/2009 Florian Schneider & Jay Hwang 8

  • Hong

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    onfer

    ence

    2009

    Legitimacy and the PRC’s 60th Anniversary

    The 60th Anniversary in Perspective• Maoist Traditions and the Symbols of the Nation:

    Rituals of Power and Service:

    • Demonstrating the ability to provide security.

    1984

    • Creating a sense of unity.

    20/08/2009 Florian Schneider & Jay Hwang 9

  • Hong

    Kon

    g Poli

    tical

    Scien

    ce As

    sociat

    ion C

    onfer

    ence

    2009

    Legitimacy and the PRC’s 60th Anniversary

    The 60th Anniversary in Perspective• Maoist Traditions and the Symbols of the Nation:

    Rituals of Power and Service:

    • Demonstrating the ability to provide security.

    1984

    • Creating a sense of unity.

    20/08/2009 Florian Schneider & Jay Hwang 10

  • Hong

    Kon

    g Poli

    tical

    Scien

    ce As

    sociat

    ion C

    onfer

    ence

    2009

    Legitimacy and the PRC’s 60th Anniversary

    The 60th Anniversary in Perspective• Maoist Traditions and the Symbols of the Nation:

    Rituals of Power and Service:

    • Demonstrating the ability to provide security.

    1999

    • Creating a sense of unity.

    20/08/2009 Florian Schneider & Jay Hwang 11

  • Hong

    Kon

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    Scien

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    ion C

    onfer

    ence

    2009

    Legitimacy and the PRC’s 60th Anniversary

    The 60th Anniversary in Perspective• Maoist Traditions and the Symbols of the Nation:

    Rituals of Power and Service:

    • Demonstrating the ability to provide security.

    1999

    • Creating a sense of unity.

    20/08/2009 Florian Schneider & Jay Hwang 12

  • Hong

    Kon

    g Poli

    tical

    Scien

    ce As

    sociat

    ion C

    onfer

    ence

    2009

    Legitimacy and the PRC’s 60th Anniversary

    The 60th Anniversary in Perspective• Maoist Traditions and the Symbols of the Nation:

    Rituals of Power and Service:

    • Demonstrating the ability to provide security.

    1999

    • Creating a sense of unity.

    20/08/2009 Florian Schneider & Jay Hwang 13

  • Hong

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    Scien

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    onfer

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    2009

    Legitimacy and the PRC’s 60th Anniversary

    The 60th Anniversary in Perspective• Maoist Traditions and the Symbols of the Nation:

    Rituals of Power and Servitude:

    • Demonstrating benevolence.

    1984

    “Hello

    Comrades!”

    “Hello Chief!”

    20/08/2009 Florian Schneider & Jay Hwang 14

  • Hong

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    onfer

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    2009

    Legitimacy and the PRC’s 60th Anniversary

    The 60th Anniversary in Perspective• Maoist Traditions and the Symbols of the Nation:

    Rituals of Power and Servitude:

    • Demonstrating benevolence.

    1999

    “You’ve been

    working hard!”

    “We serve the

    people!”

    20/08/2009 Florian Schneider & Jay Hwang 15

  • Hong

    Kon

    g Poli

    tical

    Scien

    ce As

    sociat

    ion C

    onfer

    ence

    2009

    Legitimacy and the PRC’s 60th Anniversary

    The 60th Anniversary in Perspective• Maoist Traditions and the Symbols of the Nation:

    Rituals of Power and Servitude:

    • Demonstrating benevolence.

    1999

    “You’ve been

    working hard!”

    “We serve the

    people!”

    20/08/2009 Florian Schneider & Jay Hwang 16

  • Hong

    Kon

    g Poli

    tical

    Scien

    ce As

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    onfer

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    2009

    Legitimacy and the PRC’s 60th Anniversary

    The 60th Anniversary in Perspective• Maoist Traditions and the Symbols of the Nation:

    Re-Inventing the Foundation’s Spirit:

    • Mao-Blockbuster (release date:

    10 September 2009).

    20/08/2009 Florian Schneider & Jay Hwang 17

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    2009

    Legitimacy and the PRC’s 60th Anniversary

    The 60th Anniversary in Perspective• Tales of Culture, Modernity and Welfare:

    The Civilian Parade:

    • Organized by the same team that worked on the Beijing

    Olympics Opening Ceremony 2008.

    • Zhang Yimou likely to promote similar ideas?

    20/08/2009 Florian Schneider & Jay Hwang 18

  • Hong

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    sociat

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    onfer

    ence

    2009

    Legitimacy and the PRC’s 60th Anniversary

    The 60th Anniversary in Perspective• Tales of Culture, Modernity and Welfare:

    The Civilian Parade:

    • Organized by the same team that worked on the Beijing

    Olympics Opening Ceremony 2008.

    • Zhang Yimou likely to promote similar ideas?

    • Patriotism (爱国)

    20/08/2009 Florian Schneider & Jay Hwang 19

  • Hong

    Kon

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    Scien

    ce As

    sociat

    ion C

    onfer

    ence

    2009

    Legitimacy and the PRC’s 60th Anniversary

    The 60th Anniversary in Perspective• Tales of Culture, Modernity and Welfare:

    The Civilian Parade:

    • Organized by the same team that worked on the Beijing

    Olympics Opening Ceremony 2008.

    • Zhang Yimou likely to promote similar ideas?

    • Patriotism (爱国)

    • Culture (文明)

    20/08/2009 Florian Schneider & Jay Hwang 20

  • Hong

    Kon

    g Poli

    tical

    Scien

    ce As

    sociat

    ion C

    onfer

    ence

    2009

    Legitimacy and the PRC’s 60th Anniversary

    The 60th Anniversary in Perspective• Tales of Culture, Modernity and Welfare:

    The Civilian Parade:

    • Organized by the same team that worked on the Beijing

    Olympics Opening Ceremony 2008.

    • Zhang Yimou likely to promote similar ideas?

    • Patriotism (爱国)

    • Culture (文明)

    20/08/2009 Florian Schneider & Jay Hwang 21

  • Hong

    Kon

    g Poli

    tical

    Scien

    ce As

    sociat

    ion C

    onfer

    ence

    2009

    Legitimacy and the PRC’s 60th Anniversary

    The 60th Anniversary in Perspective• Tales of Culture, Modernity and Welfare:

    The Civilian Parade:

    • Organized by the same team that worked on the Beijing

    Olympics Opening Ceremony 2008.

    • Zhang Yimou likely to promote similar ideas?

    • Patriotism (爱国)

    • Culture (文明)

    • Harmony (和谐)

    20/08/2009 Florian Schneider & Jay Hwang 22

  • Hong

    Kon

    g Poli

    tical

    Scien

    ce As

    sociat

    ion C

    onfer

    ence

    2009

    Legitimacy and the PRC’s 60th Anniversary

    The 60th Anniversary in Perspective• Tales of Culture, Modernity and Welfare:

    The Civilian Parade:

    • Organized by the same team that worked on the Beijing

    Olympics Opening Ceremony 2008.

    • Zhang Yimou likely to promote similar ideas?

    • Patriotism (爱国)

    • Culture (文明)

    • Harmony (和谐)

    20/08/2009 Florian Schneider & Jay Hwang 23

  • Hong

    Kon

    g Poli

    tical

    Scien

    ce As

    sociat

    ion C

    onfer

    ence

    2009

    Legitimacy and the PRC’s 60th Anniversary

    The 60th Anniversary in Perspective• Tales of Culture, Modernity and Welfare:

    The Civilian Parade:

    • Organized by the same team that worked on the Beijing

    Olympics Opening Ceremony 2008.

    • Zhang Yimou likely to promote similar ideas?

    • Patriotism (爱国)

    • Culture (文明)

    • Harmony (和谐)

    • Environmentalism

    (绿色)

    20/08/2009 Florian Schneider & Jay Hwang 24

  • Hong

    Kon

    g Poli

    tical

    Scien

    ce As

    sociat

    ion C

    onfer

    ence

    2009

    Legitimacy and the PRC’s 60th Anniversary

    The 60th Anniversary in Perspective• Tales of Culture, Modernity and Welfare:

    The Civilian Parade:

    • Organized by the same team that worked on the Beijing

    Olympics Opening Ceremony 2008.

    • Zhang Yimou likely to promote similar ideas?

    • Patriotism (爱国)

    • Culture (文明)

    • Harmony (和谐)

    • Environmentalism

    (绿色)

    20/08/2009 Florian Schneider & Jay Hwang 25

  • Hong

    Kon

    g Poli

    tical

    Scien

    ce As

    sociat

    ion C

    onfer

    ence

    2009

    Legitimacy and the PRC’s 60th Anniversary

    The 60th Anniversary in Perspective• Tales of Culture, Modernity and Welfare:

    The Civilian Parade:

    • Organized by the same team that worked on the Beijing

    Olympics Opening Ceremony 2008.

    • Zhang Yimou likely to promote similar ideas?

    • Patriotism (爱国)

    • Culture (文明)

    • Harmony (和谐)

    • Environmentalism

    (绿色)

    • Science and

    Technology (科技)

    20/08/2009 Florian Schneider & Jay Hwang 26

  • Hong

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    Legitimacy and the PRC’s 60th Anniversary

    The 60th Anniversary in Perspective• Appealing to Patriotic Sentiments:

    Public Displays of Affection for the Nation:

    • Poems sent in via SMS and displayed in the metro.

    • Highlighting the

    advances in Chinese

    society.

    • Congratulating the

    nation to its

    “birthday”.

    20/08/2009 Florian Schneider & Jay Hwang 27

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    Legitimacy and the PRC’s 60th Anniversary

    The 60th Anniversary in Perspective• Telling the Personal Stories:

    Series of Family Tales in the “New Capital Daily”:

    • Lives of ordinary Beijing citizens as mirrors to

    China’s history.

    • Stories of welfare and improvement

    • Selective narratives that place the desired

    emphases on certain periods of the PRC’s

    history rather than on others.

    20/08/2009 Florian Schneider & Jay Hwang 28

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    Legitimacy and the PRC’s 60th Anniversary

    The 60th Anniversary in Perspective• Expanding the Narrative: Revival of Traditions:

    Bringing the Sage back:

    • “Confucius” - Film directed by Hu Mei.

    20/08/2009 Florian Schneider & Jay Hwang 29

  • Hong

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    2009

    Legitimacy and the PRC’s 60th Anniversary

    The 60th Anniversary in Perspective• Expanding the Narrative: Revival of Traditions:

    Bringing the Sage back:

    • “Confucius” – TV drama

    on CCTV.

    20/08/2009 Florian Schneider & Jay Hwang 30

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    Legitimacy and the PRC’s 60th Anniversary

    (Preliminary) Conclusion• 60th Anniversary of 30 Years Modern China?

    Re-enforcing the Old Ideological Base of Legitimacy:

    • Marxism-Leninism-Mao Zedong,

    • Tales of a Progressive Modernity,

    • Tales of National Greatness.

    • Institutional changes and inclusion of new actors.

    • Re-arranging the ideological legacy and re-interpreting some

    of its concepts (for instance: welfare).

    • Reviving traditional concepts to pre-empt other social groups

    from doing so.

    Expanding the Base of Legitimacy:

    • Any legitimacy base can be attacked, even a broad one.

    Resistance to Dominant Discourses is Possible:

    20/08/2009 Florian Schneider & Jay Hwang 31

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    2009

    Legitimacy and the PRC’s 60th Anniversary

    谢谢

    www.mearc.eu

    20/08/2009 Florian Schneider & Jay Hwang 32

    http://www.mearc.eu/