The Modern Chinese Political System, the Philosophy Behind It, and the Influence of the 1989 Student Movement Jeremy Jordan Sarah Gruba Kyle Kawahara

Political Background

• July 20 th 1921 the Chinese Communist Party was founded – Underground Marxist-Leninist group – Based on “democratic centralism” • • Allows for debate only before the law is put in place Expect complete obedience for all Laws • Came into power in 1949 after kicking out Kuomintang

Political Structure

The Working Class The Peasantry The Communist Party of China The Urban Petty Bourgeoisie The National Bourgeoisie (Capitalists)

Government

• • Other minor political powers do exist – – Must be approved by the CCP operate under its leadership, – Basically powerless. • No independently organized Party is • tolerated Reeducation Camp In charge of large scale industry and universities

Membership

• • • • Over 66 Million Members in 3.5 Million Organizations Every member has a position Open to any Chinese citizen – – – Can not have citizenship any in other country Atleast 18 years old Must be “willing to accept and abide by the Party’s constitution and policies”. Career advancement

Membership

• • Need to fill an application form and be introduced by two party members “princelings” (

taizi

) – – Promoted because of who they are related to.

Abilities, training and experience may be ignored

Positions

• • Advancement – Senior officials are elected every five years by the lower officials – Lower officials • • Need support from higher officials Perform job according to parties ideals If you do not follow the ideals of the party you are transferred to less desirable jobs

Positions

• • May hold several positions in all the branches at once – Military, Party, and Government – Encouraged to watch each other No one is equal even in the same committee – Authority and influence comes from personal connections, experience, association with successful policies.

– This makes It very hard for an outsider to see how the government works

Advantages for Party Members

• Party Schools (CCP-Cadre Accademies) – – Training facilities for the Party's elite members Cover a range of topics • • • • Military affairs Economics Law Western political theory – Tight security (No outsiders allowed inside)

Outside Party Influences

• • • Think Tanks – Intelligence gathering – – Provide analysis and reccomendation Can draft proposals National People’s Congress – In the past was largely symbolic – Today it has become more assertive in voicing their opionions Multinational and private business

Influences

• • Universities Private Businesses

Censorship and State Secret

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College Students

Possible Future

• Switching back to Confucianism – In 2005, the president instructed his cadres to build a – harmonious society where China would promote such values as honesty and unity as well as forge a closer relationship between the people and the government.

In 2007 the Prime minister’s goal was to promote values such as honesty – Already many providence officials are evaluated on the basis of Confucian values (filial piety) – Several schools have been established that focus only on the classics

Philosophy

• Confucianism origins – – Heirarchy Women are not in positions of power – – Retirement and Age discrimination

“Because I am incredibly old, over 60 even, I can no longer qualify for a "Foreign Expert Certificate", which means that I cannot get a contract to teach in China, which means that I cannot get a work visa, which means that I can only stay in China for 90 days at a time on my tourist visa, which means that I had to leave the country if only for a day.”

– Everyone must do their duty – People can be used in order to accomplish the main goal

Confucianism (cont)

• • • In its ideal form, the Communist Party in China is analogous to the Confucian “exemplary person.” Just as the exemplary person educates those around him by example, the Party is supposed to show the people the way.

Similarly to Russia, this ideal has been undermined by nepotism and careerism

• • •

Conflicts between Communism and Confucianism

Confucianism says that one should honor their parents above all else.

Communism says that ultimate loyalty should be to the party (and by extension, the people).

Communism lacks the regard for tradition that Confucianism has. This was prominently displayed in the Cultural Revolution of the late 1960s, where groups of young Chinese communists went around destroying historical artifacts.

Mohism

• • • Mohist philosophy is very compatible with Communism.

• • Both systems stress equal treatment of all.

“Primary goal was to change and shape behavior- in particular the way people are treated” Communism glorifies the worker, just as Mohism emphasizes utility.

Mohism would likely agree with the initial structure of the Communist Party, as it put those best suited into power.

Mohism cont

• • • Both Mohism and communism downplay the importance of individual relationships. Instead, they both want people to love everyone equally and impartially. This leads to the objectification and dehumanization In practice Mohism has achievement being credited to the people on top, and the blame going to people on the bottom.

Student Movement

• April-June 1989 at Tiananmen Square, Beijing – – – initiated by college students working class and peasants became involved 1 in 10 people in Beijing participated • • Communist Party leaders perceived this as a threat to their control over the Chinese people Communist Party leaders declared martial law and sent troops to Tiananmen Square to stop the movement...

• • Chinese people appealed to the emotions of the soldiers, pleading with them to see that the people weren’t a threat The PLA refused to kill their own people and retreated to bases outside of Beijing • June 3rd: The government lost face and then Chairman of the Communist Party, Deng Xiaoping, retaliated by sending in troops from all over the region with the orders: no bloodshed, but the square must be cleared by 6:00 am June the 4th...

• The Massacre at Tiananmen Square – the people began to throw rocks and bottles at tanks and ensuing troops – troops fired at random, in all directions, using ammunition designed specifically for the battlefield • took place mainly within the city, thousands killed – – – ordinary people on their balconies were killed students, workers, peasants were killed chaos erupted and the army continued slaughtering people at random...

• • • Eventually, the army prevailed and the majority of surviving protesters retreated - 4:00 am on the 4 th of June - display of dominance By June 5 th Tiananmen Square was regained A social contract was created: - Capitalism was introduced as a strategic means of suppressing revolution against the • • Communist government don’t protest the government and its actions and you’ll receive financial benefit protest, and face big trouble...

• The student movement’s impact on Chinese Politics – Adoption of capitalism – Withholding of historical records from students and future generations through censorship – overarching control over media, internet, education system – CCP and China emerging as economic power, Communist agenda still alive… Propaganda

Democratic Reforms

• • • Have allowed small scale democratic elections – – – Work places Cities Schools Builds a sense of nationalism Boosts productivity

Democratic Party In China?

•Many people do not believe that democracy would work in China •Doesn’t work for Chinese people •The Power of the Government •Foot binding •Change Chinese culture •One child only policy

Sources

Dr. Jinmei Yuan Understanding China’s Political System by Michael F. Martin CIA World Factbook China’s New Confucianism by Daniel Bell Axiological Rules and Chinese Political Philosophy by Zhao Dunhua Aspects of an Institutionalizing Political System by David Bachman The Cultural Revolution and the Chinese Political System by Tang Tsou