Chinese Politics(PLCP 3610) midterm review

Chinese ways of Politics - BackgroundTraditional Geopolitics:∙China – center of Asia, regional hegemon, aim to maintain status quo rather than to expand∙Continuity in political system – dynasties following one another, with the Emperor holding absolute power over the people (Mandate ofHeaven)∙Strong sense of hierarchy and order (Confucian)China & the Rest of the World:∙Tribute system (from wuwai) – China is the central, dominant, strong kingdom; the hierarchy between Empire and its neighborso In return for recognition that China is the hegemon, China would not invade etc. in order to preserve stability in the region o Benefited China by eliminating the threat of attack fromneighborso Opium War with British brought the end of the Tribute System (~1839-1860)∙Treaty system – (Nanjing 1842, Tianjin 1858) – China enters the world through humiliating process, due to unequal treaties in 1840-1908 o Reluctantly opening up to international tradeo Loss of national identity due to change and collapse of traditional system∙Rise of Nationalism:∙The wish to re-emerge, but not as the traditional China – a modern patriotic China; it must follow its own path (againstWestphalian sovereignty)∙Resistance to West and Japan 1911∙Fall of Qing in 1912; rise of the Nationalist party and the CCP which unite the countryo KMT = created by Sun Yat-Sen (Republican era); Modernand Nationalisto CCP = Modern and Communist; based on Marxism andLeninism∙KMT and CCP unite to defeat northern warlords, but the CCP loses 90% followingRural Revolution and Land ReformRR:∙social movement and political theory by Mao Zedong, which mass-mobilized the peasants in China – 1927-1949∙Reinvention of the CCP based on the mobilization of peasants∙The CCP Long March to evade the KMT –Mao’s leadership 1934-35 –this consolidated the RR, (along with the Japanese war 37-45) ∙Prior to the RR, the rural villages were not a part of the political system, and afterwards they became the foundationMao:∙Joined the CCP in 1921∙Focus on the rural areas, which kept him afloat when the Party collapsed in 1927-30 – the belief that the peasants will rise andtransform China∙Leader due to military/survival prowess∙‘Mao Zedong Thought’ became the central ideology of the CCP∙Mao’s tactics:∙Go to each village in order to gather support and changeopinions of each∙Mobilization of the largest number wins∙Flat administration – the people at the top cannot be too far from those at the bottom∙Guerilla warfare∙1949 – the CCP victorious over the KMT = success of RR and begins the PRC∙After the RR, everything was organized from the Village-up, which paved the way for future developments in ChinaLand Reform:∙The returning of Land Ownership to peasants from 1950-53∙The abolishment of landownership by landlord-class; introduction of peasant landownership – redistribution process∙At least 1 million former landowners killed in this timeEarly Years of PRCShortly after Land Reform began the Collectivization of agriculture – three stages of C:Mutual Aid Teams:∙In line with traditions of mutual help – widely accepted and supported ∙Homogeneity of households made it very easy to carry out cooperation ∙No sign of decline in peasant income afte r intro of MAT’s∙Voluntary, and mutually beneficial∙Peasants still owners of landPrimary Cooperatives:∙30 households per cooperative –larger scale than MAT’s∙Nationwide drive in 1954 – rapid change caused disorder in rural communities; by 1955 60% of rural areas in coops and nearly all in1956∙Peasants skeptical about these; more coercion existed by cadresAdvanced Cooperatives:∙ A step towards complete socialism for Mao; removing the private ownership of land altogether∙Around 250 households in each coop∙Income received depending on your needs and your contribution in terms of labor∙Reluctance from villages but coercion by cadres – nearly all households in AC’s by end of 1956∙Issues with AC’s:∙Inefficiencies of production –quality of work not important to workforce; villager’s identity with their coop diminished∙Personal income dramatically declined∙Cadres use of coercion increased – alienated themselves from the people and obtained privileges∙Resistance and protest frequent in order for villagers to escape the AC system∙Did not capitalize on ‘shared interest’ and ‘shared identity’ like the MAT’s had done*1956/57 were troubling times for Mao – paved the way for the GLFGreat Leap Forward1957 – uncertainty about the next move to take for CCP; Russian model no longer available to follow > A distinctly Chinese communism∙The People’s Commune: replacing AC’s (30 times bigger)∙Commune took property of members (peasants)∙Militarization of production and labor management∙Unilateral decisions; no regard to local conditions – everything nationally coordinated∙Exaggeration of local cadres – unrealistic targets of govt leading to over-reporting supply∙Strict regulation on grain-consumption∙Existence of social pressure, coercion, terror, systematic violence∙Negative economic growth∙The Mess Halls∙Tens of millions died in a widespread famine∙Reasons for GLF failure:∙Natural disasters impacting on agricultural production∙Exaggeration of production combined with lavish consumption originally∙Ineffective use of labor forceCultural RevolutionCR:∙Causes:∙No Soviet model to follow; what’s next?∙Chance for peasants to politicize∙Response to the material failure of the GLF∙Attempt to re-legitimize Mao’s credentials∙ A political phenomenon, not economic –Mao’s aim was the replace Chinese traditions with communist doctrine (furthering the Communist nation)∙Mao urged the people to attack the establishment/the bourgeoisie in society∙Urban vs. Rural experience:∙Violence and chaos in the cities – political agitation and violence between factions∙No real economic differences in rural areas and so factions virtually nonexistent∙Peasants able to expand political interests∙Four Olds campaign:∙Cities focus on the destruction of religious symbols, ancient books, buildings∙Rural areas focus on ridding of traditional customs, habits, faiths – no symbols to destroy∙Death of Mao:∙September 1976∙Leftist ideology loses its support with the passing of Mao∙Transition period; no real plan for China until Deng Xiaoping rose to prominence in 1978∙Legacy of the CR:∙Bankruptcy of leftism – no ideological motives remain; emphasis is from now on focused on material progress e.g. economicgrowth∙Most people better off after the end of the CR in terms ofmaterial wealth/standard of living∙Accomplishments of Leftist China 1949-78:∙Equality of health and education∙Increased life expectancy, and literacy in rural areas ∙Rights of women increasesReform Era1978-present – Economic and Political reforms; introduction of market mechanisms to China。