Nationality Flashcards
What did Stalin say in Marxism and the National Question?
Stalin: Marxism and the National Question, 1913.
- Divides group types into “nationalities” and “minorities”
- “A nationality is a historically constituted, stable community of people, formed on the basis of a common language, territory, economic life, and psychological make-up manifested in a common culture”
- A “minority” lacks one element: common territory
- Nationalities get “autonomy” and right to secede
How did Soviet ideas spread in the CCP?
- The Comintern, the Soviet Union’s international political arm, helps to organize the 1st National Congress of the Communist Party of China - 1921
- 2nd Central Committee Convention - 1922-23
- A version of Soviet “nationality” policy is adopted
What is Minzu?
• A common translation of the Russian idea
• Also used frequently for the Chinese idea of minzu
• Minzu entered China from Japan around the turn of the century
• It was the word that was used to translate the Stalinist idea of nationality
Minzu: somewhere between an ethnicity and a nation, in that it implies some political rights but is seen as below the level of nation
What did the Constitution of the Soviet Republic say and when was it?
“The Soviet government of China recognizes the right of ethno-national self-determination of the minorities within China…” (cont. On pp) “and their right to establish an independent nation (guojia)”
Explains that the Han is the only nationality, everyone else is a minority
“multi-minzu nation”
Get rid of the right to secede
What is the official policy of China?
Official policy: China is a multi-nationality nation - China, Chinese people, 56 ethnic groups. One Han majority, 55 minority nationalities.
What is the goal of ethnic policy in China and how is ethnicity portrayed?
The goal of ethnic policy is to promote ethnic unity
Cultural promotion and orientalism:
• Emphasis on non political cultural products like folk art, oral tradition, dancing, clothing, food, and music
Portrayal of minorities as not good at everything, but one thing particularly like sport or cooking - does not empower their ethnic/political ideas
What are the ideological inspirations of the CCP?
Ideological inspirations:
a. Marxism:
i. Main contribution was an analysis of capitalism: characterised by bourgeoisie (owners of capital), the proletariat (working class) and exploitation (industrialisation make worker survivability sole incentive for bourgeoisie)
ii. Capitalism is essentially one “mode of production”
iii. Marx’s views are descriptive of the present and past. He derided planners as “Utopian”
iv. Productive forces / relations lead, ideas/theories follow. Therefore Marx was unwilling to prescribe the shape of communism
b. Leninism
i. Adaptation of Marxism
ii. Need for “vanguard party” to force change
iii. Democratic centrism (“freedom of discussion, unity of action” - once decided, no dissent)
Calls lower order of communism “socialism” = dictatorship of the proletariat
When was the CCP founded?
a. Founding of CCP: 1921
Organized itself by its own internal rules. It depended on popular support but did not constitute itself through vote of the ruled
When was the PRC founded?
b. Founding of PRC: 1949
i. The CCP is in charge, regardless of the structure of the government
Mao is the unquestioned leader of the CCP
What was the Party like under Mao?
a. With the exception of a short period in the early 1960s, Mao’s power was not seriously challenged
Creative and often brutal means of crushing dissent: 100 flowers and the anti-rightist campaign, 1957-58, The Cultural Revolution 1966-76
What was the Party like after Mao?
a. After the death of Mao, Deng Xiaoping emerges as leaders
In 1992, he retires (!) - this sets off a period of term-limited leaders who retire after 10 years
How is Xi Jinping similar to Mao?
a. Xi Jinping:
i. “anti-corruption” drive
ii. The “core” of he party
iii. “Xi Jinping” thought - Mao was the most recent to say this
iv. Abolition of term limits
v. Restriction on internet, dissent
vi. Subjugation of all elements to party
Cult of personality: “Xi dada”
How does the Party work in practice?
a. 90 million members
b. Membership by application
c. Hierarchical electoral system: “democratic centralism” - “vetting” of candidates
d. The party in businesses
e. The party vs the state: no top position held by a non-party member
Has its own constitution
Is China communist/socialist?
a. Some get rich before others
b. Government claim they are socialist
c. Seemingly market-oriented competition, but many large businesses owned by the state: “SOE’s”
Do SOEs count as proletariat control of the means of production?
