Category Archives: IS-336X

Lin Shangli raises an interesting point in regards to the development of the Chinese political consultation. On page 141 he writes “To the CCP, multi-party cooperation was both part of its effort to fight the one party dictatorship of the Kuomintang and an institutional alternative to the Soviet Union’s one class, one party dictatorship.” (Lieberthal,141).  This is raises an interesting point about the development of the CCP, and their original motives. While it would stand to reason that the CCP would want to model itself after the established leader of the communist world, by designing the political consultation system, the CCP was determined to distinguish themselves from the USSR. In my opinion the CCP did this one major reason. The reason being to overthrow the USSR as the leader of the Communist world. Mao knew that China was a semi feudal and semi-colonial state, meaning that in order for China to establish a legitimate communist state, the CCP needed a system of democratic centralism in which the CCP would lead and cooperate with other democratic parties to actually unite the country (the USSR abolished other parties and forced unity). This system was guaranteed to outlast the Soviet system, as the Chinese political consultation  system caused the legitimacy of the government to be tied to the people, which then caused the CCP to cooperate with other parties and attempt to unify all classes.  Overall, Mao and the CCP knew that if they were able to unify all classes of Chinese society, then the development of a legitimate Chinese state would form and ultimately outlast the USSR.

The major theme that stood out during President Xi Jinping’s New Year message was the theme of class harmony. The other themes were not surprising as he emphasized and praised the progress of the CCP and his goal of strengthening the Chinese military was to be expected especially considering the renewed tensions in the South China Sea. The theme of class harmony stood out as this goal was legitimized by the CCP’s 16th National Congress in 2002, but the concept dates back to the end of the Cultural Revolution and Mao’s death . Ever since the transition to a market economy the CCP has abandoned Mao’s original philosophy of constant class struggle, but instead has focused on creating harmony between the classes. Throughout his speech, Xi consistently emphasized the need to make sure that all classes benefit from China’s economic expansion. While Xi hopes to ensure that all Chinese reap the rewards of the economic expansion, the reality that the CCP has regressed and corruption remains rife, it stood out to me that Xi didn’t mention reforming the CCP itself. Wang Changjiang highlights thee need for reform by claiming that the CCP needs to create stronger institutions, and that the CCP is operating on obsolete ideas (Lieverthal, Cheng Li, Yu Keping, 92).  In my view, if President XI Jinping wishes to accomplish the goal that has eluded the CCP for decades,  then the CCP itself must be reformed in order to the market economy to function effectively, and for the party to maintain legitimacy. The question remains, will President Jinping reform the party (publicly or privately) or will he continue the status quo?

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