Poli330 Chap13

Chapter 13

Population: 1.3+ billion Geographic area: slightly smaller than U.S. –

fourth largest country in world Political system: Communist party-state –

officially a socialist state under people’s democratic dictatorship. Chinese Communist Party - CCP

Executive: Premier (head of government) and president (head of state) elected by legislature, but approval of CCP leadership. Current president – Hu Jintao

Legislature: Unicameral National People’s Congress – 2985 delegates – elected indirectly – five-year terms. Rubber stamp for CCP policies

Judiciary: nationwide system of people’s courts. Supreme People’s Court supervises.

Party System: one-party system – CCP (but eight other insignificant “democratic” parties)

Three important historical periods:◦ Imperial period (221 BC to 1911 AD) – series of

dynasties/emperors◦ Republican period (1912-1949) – civil wars and

foreign invasions◦ Communist period (1949-present) – founding of

People’s Republic of China

One of world’s oldest cultural & political traditions

China’s first emperor unified country 221 BC

Ruled by dozen different family-based dynasties

Revolution 1911 – ended 2000 year old imperial system

Five major reasons◦ Effective national government – merit-based

bureaucracy – competitive exams◦ Traditional Chinese economy strong –

urbanization occurred before W. Europe◦ Structure of traditional society – small villages –

landlords & elites maintained system in countryside

◦ Enduring influence of Confucianism (Confucius 551-478 BC) – importance of group over individual

◦ Dominant political, military, & cultural force

Established 1912 – revolutionary Dr. Sun Yat-sen became president◦ Problems with warlords

1921 – Chinese Communist Party established – inspired by Russian Revolution◦ Initially joined Sun Yat-sen to fight warlords◦ Alliance fell apart when Chiang Kai-shek took

power after Sun Yat-sen’s death 1925 – he ordered bloody suppression to wipe out communists

Communists regrouped – relocated to countryside – focus on peasants

Long March – 1934-35 – communists escaped attack by Chiang’s forces

Mao Zedong – consolidated power of CCP – elected party chairman in 1943

Communists given boost by Japan’s invasion of China in 1937 which brought WWII to China◦ Mao mobilized peasants to use guerilla warfare

By 1945 – CCP had expanded membership – controlled much of north China

After Japan surrendered – civil war resumed Nationalists (Chiang) retreated to Taiwan 1949 – Mao declared founding of People’s

Republic of China

Massive land reforms – redistributed property from rich to poor - increased agricultural productivity◦ Nationalization of industry & collectivization

Elimination of opium addiction & prostitution

Laws enhancing status of women – freed from arranged marriages

Hundred Flowers Movement (1956)– shake up bureaucrats, allow people to have more voice

Anti-Rightist Campaign (1957)– reaction to criticism of Hundred Flowers – thousands fired, sent to labor camps

Great Leap Forward (1958-1960) – attempt at “true communism” – leap a flop – 20-30 million died

Great Proletarian Revolution (1966-1976) ideological crusade – back to socialism – but with violent methods – Red Guard purges

Successor after Mao’s death Break with Maoist past – private enterprise

encouraged Chinese economy grew during 1980s Tiananmen Square (June 1989) – students

& intellectuals demonstrated in Beijing – military eventually “cleared” the square

Political repression ensued When Soviet Union collapsed by 1992 –

PRC sought to avoid similar fate

Continued economic reform & growth Admitted to World Trade Organization

(WTO) in 2001 Hu Jintao took power 2003 – new kind of

leader◦ Hu hardline on dissent, but softer on dealing with

economic issues

China nuclear power – world’s largest conventional military

One of five permanent members of UN Security Council

Early 1970s, détente with U.S. because China more afraid of USSR

Sino-American relations are difficult◦ Disagreements over human rights in Tibet, and

political status of Taiwan◦ However, PRC chief ally against terrorism after

9/11

Considered “one of century’s greatest economic miracles”

China now major player – creditor to the world – even U.S.◦ International trade central component – takes

advantage of low-wage domestic labor to produce goods sold worldwide

◦ U.S. biggest market for Chinese goods (lead & tainted milk)

Economic changes – led to increased gulf between rich & poor – more political & social tensions

China’s contradictory position in world economy:

Trending towards system of “Market-Leninism” – economic openness & political rigidity◦ Low level of economic & technological development

– makes it part of “Third World” Web access tightly controlled for citizens – bureaucracy

“polices” the Internet◦ But, total output and expanding trade – and vast

population – make it economic superpower among nations

Tibet China’s One-child policy Hong Kong Taiwan Beijing Olympics Challenge of democratic ideas