Political Culture – China

Dedication to Communism• Government no longer expects

people to actively support communism, so long as the don’t actively oppose it.

• Since 1978, leaders have chosen to be judged by their ability to generate economic growth and increased standards of living for the people.

• In modern China, legitimacy is directly tied to economic performance

• In 2006, in colleges all over the country, the state reduced the number of required political ideology courses from 7 to 4

Economic Development

• The government has supported and advanced a policy of “some get rich first.”

• This, of course, has led to tremendous income inequality.

• Rural income is 30% lower than urban.

• Government also supports a policy of “first development, then environment.”

• Economic development has become the key in promotion through the system

Geography

• It’s the 2nd largest country in area

• It’s the largest country by population

• But, only about 25% of the land is arable

• Farmland is shrinking as industry and private property grows

The “Rule of Law”• There are laws and all are

equally governed by them• Historically, the “rule of law”

has no place in communism as “law is a weapon of the state”

• While Chinese government often violates the latter part, reform began in 1978

• First, there was a need to undo the wrongs of the Cultural Revolution and restore stability and order

• Second, Deng Xiaoping wanted to show a commitment to “system building vs. arbitrary rule”

• Finally, hoped to encourage economic growth and investment

Legal Reform• 1982 constitution subjects

the party to authority of law• 1996 reform gives the right to

counsel at early stages of criminal investigation

• 1997 reform created laws dealing with economic crime

• It also eliminated the crime of “counterrevolution”

• Instituted property rights and contract law

• Done to encourage foreign investment, to provide codes for growing capitalism, and to appease outside pressure (particularly surrounding the Olympics)

Problems with law• Capital punishment used

in “lesser crimes” (e.g., rape, theft, smuggling, and child trafficking).

• Trials are inquisitorial in nature – by the time you get there, you’re already guilty

• There are several thousand political prisoners despite the removal of the counterrevolutionary law

• No judicial review• The party controls the

legal system

Mass Media• The explosion of

telecommunications around the world have benefited China

• Decreased the importance of state-controlled media

• There are 10x as many periodicals (9,500) and newspapers (2,000) today as there were in 1978

• Censorship is still alive– the government can shut

down papers that “go too far”– regular monitoring of the

Internet– objection to foreign

publication

Political Participation

• Mao expected people to participate in political activity. Lack of participation was opposition to the regime.

• Today, apathy is accepted.

• The government has also moved away from mass mobilization campaigns.

• Finally, mass demonstrations are discouraged over private complaints through local channels.

Parties and Mass Organizations

• There are 8 “satellite” parties under communist control– They participate in the NPC,

but have no real policymaking power

• Mass organizations– headed by party officials– they don’t represent groups

which are looking to have interests advanced in politics

– rather, they meet with those groups and explain relevant party decisions

Corruption• Chinese people

consistently view corruption as a serious problem with the government

• In fact, the Tiananmen protests were as much about corruption as democracy

• Procuratorates are supposed to prosecute corruption as criminal offenses, but party discipline precedes criminal investigations

Other Issues – Part 1• Environmentalism

– 8-12% of GDP lost annually to pollution

– When village committees created in 1987, environmental protection became very difficult

– State EPA is horribly under funded

• Population Control– Officially, China has a one-

child policy– Rules change from province

to province– Rules are less strict in rural

areas– Enforcement is difficult– Despite objections, the policy

has worked

Other Issues – Part 2• Hong Kong– In 1984, China established

“one country, two systems,” to support capitalism in Hong Kong

– In 1996, after taking over, China replaced elected officials with its own

– Greater freedom there than elsewhere

• Taiwan– Nationalists fled there after

losing the civil war– In 1971, it lost its official

standing as the government of China

– Tension remains high with the mainland

Final Thoughts• Can economic growth

continue without breaking the communist party and establishing democracy?

• Can China continue to survive as a communist regime when most of the others collapsed years ago?

• Will nationalism help continue to protect communism in China?