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
