how china is ruled: unpacking the ccp
DESCRIPTION
I attempt to explain the complex set up of the Chinese Communist Party. From its inspiration from the Russian counterpart, to Mao and up to Xi's current time. Its a quick stop for those wanting a quick recap of the biggest political party on earth.TRANSCRIPT
HOW CHINA IS RULED
Unpacking the CCP
Bright Mhango
THE CHINESE COMMUNIST PARTY
82,000,000 + membership
Biggest political party in the world.
It was founded in 1921, chiefly by Chen
Duxiu and Li Dazhao
Sole governor of China but not only party – 8 other
legal parties are in China.
Product of the 10-year Civil war with KMT
REACH: HOW POWERFUL?
Almost all aspects of life
-Number of Children
- Content of school curriculum
- Content of TV programmes
- Market decisions
ORGANISATION
The CPC is organized on the basis of democratic
centralism.
- Inspired by Vladimir Lenin and entails
democratic and open discussion on policy on the
condition of unity in upholding the agreed upon
policies.
SO FAR..
STRUCTURE
Infograph: BBC
STRUCTURE
Infograph: The Antlatic
HIERARCHY
Highest body of the CPC is the National Congress,
convened every fifth year.
When the National Congress is not in session,
the Central Committee is the highest body.
Since NC meets once a year most duties and
responsibilities are vested in the Politburo and
its Standing Committee
IDEOLOGY OF THE CPC
Marxism–Leninism
Mao Zedong Thought,
Socialism with Chinese characteristics
Deng Xiaoping Theory
Three Represents : economy, culture, political
consensus (Jiang Zemin)
Scientific Outlook on Development.
Atheism
JOINING
Brings significant privileges: Members get access to
better information, and many jobs are only open to
members.
To join, applicants need the backing of existing
members and to undergo exhaustive checks and
examination by their local party branch. They then
face a year's probation, again involving
assessments and training.
GOVERNANCE
Provinces enjoy great autonomy – Beijing offers
policy guidance
Two sessions – CPC takes time to listen to outside
concerns
But Beijing still maintains ultimate power
SCARES
The Soviet implosion
1989 Tiananmen democracy riots
Party resolved to stay alert and watch economy,
dormant party structures and dogmatic ideology
(David Shambaugh China's Communist Party,
2008 )
Uses economy as legitimacy factor - Richard
McGregor The Party, 2010
CRITICISMS
Unrepresentative of China as a whole.
- Only a quarter of its members are women.
Obsessive about control.
-Suppressing dissent or any challenge to its
authority.
Income inequality, lack of consumer protection, land
grabs, and human rights issues. Highlighted by
Internet
Rigid FP
RESPONSE
More economic legitimacy
Opening up in the NGO sphere
Online Petitioning
Foreign training of Cadres
But still suspicious of West
REFERENCE
Beina Xu (2013)The Chinese Communist Party
http://www.cfr.org/china/chinese-communist-party/p29443
Brian Fung (2012) How China Picks Its Leaders: A Chart <
http://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2012/11/how-china-
picks-its-leaders-a-chart/264940/ >
BBC (2012) How China is ruled: Communist Party <
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-pacific-13904437 >
China.org.cn (no date) Structure of the State <
http://www.china.org.cn/english/features/state_structure/64404.htm >
Mamta Badkar (2012) The Communist Party's Enigmatic Hierarchy In
One Simple Chart < http://www.businessinsider.com/chinese-
communist-party-one-chart-2012-9#ixzz2yR8rzszq>
THE END