China Test Flashcards
What is democratic centralism?
A communist belief in a small group of leaders who make decisions for the people
What is the Mandate of Heaven?
Right to rule guided by the empire from heaven above
Was democratic centralism a component of both Leninism and Maoism?
Yes
What are the key elements of Confucianism?
Emphasizes the importance of order and harmony, hierarchical society, and loyalty to family
What are the key elements of Mao’s version of communism?
Emphasizes self reliance and struggle, egalitarian social structure, and loyalty to the state/Mao
What are some Chinese programs that were directly inspired by the Soviet Union?
Five Year Plans, land reform, and civil reform
What is the largest ethnic group in China?
The Han Chinese
How likely are citizens to join non-governmental organization in China? In Russia?
In China- many do but the organizations don’t have much influence
In Russia- many Russians don’t
What are some of the problems and political incidents that have come from ethnic differences in China?
Tibetans feel dissented, Muslim Uyghurs want to create a separate Muslim state, Tibetan torch riots, riots in Xinjiang
What is Hukuo?
The household registration system that makes it difficult to move from one place to another
Who has been impacted by Hukuo?
It affects workers that move from city to city in search of jobs
How does the military influence politics in China? In Russia?
In China- the military works closely with the government
In Russia- the military is used by Putin but doesn’t have influence on policy
What is the Chinese Politburo?
The policy making committee in the CCP
Who makes political policy in China?
The CCP
What is the direct election process in China?
Local elections are the only direct elections in China
How does the direct election process in China compare to that of the UK?
The UK has direct elections and have choice among candidates from different parties but the party controls who runs for each party
What is guanxi?
Having personal connections….how people get high up government jobs
What is the Shanghai Gang?
A group of people that work for Zemin that pushed for capitalism and open door trading policies
Who leads the Shanghai Gang?
Kiang Zemin
Describe the corruption in China?
Corruption is widespread with many bribes occurring; the guanxi and economic boom have contributed to the corruption
What is the danwei system?
Social units based on a person’s work provided for by the government; it provided medical care, housing, daycare, recreational facilities, as well as, job/income
What is state corporatism?
Organizations are created and approved by the state and government heads are the officials
How is state corporatism implemented in China?
Only one organization is allowed per profession/activity
What are the 3 parallel hierarchies of the Chinese political structure?
The Communist Party, the State, and the People’s Liberation Army
What is the National People’s Congress?
The top Congress in government
Why is the National People’s Congress so important to Chinese politics?
It is supposed to be the people’s legislature (their representation)
Who is the head of government in China?
The Premier
Describe the judiciary in China.
It consists of a 4 tiered “people’s court”
How has the judiciary changed since Mao?
Before rule of law had little influence in the judiciary, but today it is highly influential
What is the relationship between the CCP and PLA?
They are both intertwined; the CCP controls the PLA
What is dual role?
Vertical watch from the next higher level and horizontal watch by the CCP
What are some recent democratic reforms in China?
Input from the National People’s Congress is heard in the Politburo, more emphasis is placed on laws and legal procedures, village elections are now semi-competitive
What is the one child policy?
A program to ensure each couple only had one child
What are some problems that have come from China’s one child policy?
It has caused an unequal male to female ratio, and there are not enough young people to care for the abundant elderly
What is Mao’s iron rice bowl policy?
The state set production quotas and distributed basic goods to consumers
Who makes up China’s floating population?
Rural migrants seeking job opportunities in cities
How does China’s consumer economic practices compare to those in the US?
Many Chinese save extra money they have rather than spend it
Why is Chinese people saving money a problem for China?
It makes China more dependent on other countries buying it’s goods because it doesn’t have a strong consumer market
What is the trade relationship between China and the U.S.?
It’s an open trade policy; the U.S. imports a lot more from China than it exports to China
How do most Chinese leaders feel about Taiwan?
Most leaders feel that it should be brought back under Chinese control.
Compare the process of political socialization in China and the UK?
China-not much most people don’t participate in government and even if they did there is only one party they can register for
UK- family, media, background, and social class
