The Chinese Communist Party Flashcards
What are the 15 most significant points from “China’s Communist Party-State: The Structure and Dynamics of Power”?
- The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has been the only ruling party in China since the founding of the People’s Republic of China in 1949. The CCP’s monopoly on political power has remained consistent, with power struggles within the CCP being the primary source of political contention in the country.
- While the CCP is not willing to give up its monopoly on political power or adopt a multiparty democracy, it has undergone significant transformations during the reform era, including changes in recruitment of party elites, institutional reforms, and ideological shifts. The CCP leadership is not a monolithic group, and members have varying ideologies, backgrounds, and policy preferences.
- Under the leadership of Xi Jinping since 2012, there has been a return of strongman politics, which has been viewed both domestically and internationally as a move backwards in China’s political institutionalization. Xi’s decision to remove term limits for the presidency, essentially allowing him to potentially be “president for life,” has raised concerns about the concentration of power and potential challenges to the established norms of political succession and collective leadership within the CCP.
- Xi Jinping’s consolidation of power: The text highlights how Xi Jinping, as General Secretary of the CCP and President of the PRC, has centralized power and eliminated term limits, indicating his intention to stay in top leadership indefinitely. This demonstrates a shift towards more authoritarian rule.
- Party control over the military: The text emphasizes the CCP’s tight control over the military, with the Central Military Commission (CMC) acting as the key institution overseeing the armed forces. This reinforces the principle that the party commands the gun, rather than the other way around.
- Party dominance in the political system: The text underscores how the CCP holds ultimate authority in China’s political system, with its influence extending into various branches of government, including the legislature (National People’s Congress) and executive (State Council). This reflects the party’s overarching role in governing the country.
- Changing Composition of the CCP: The occupational and educational backgrounds of the CCP’s membership and leadership have evolved significantly. The party has transitioned from a revolutionary group primarily comprising peasants, soldiers, and urban workers to a ruling party with a more diverse membership from various sectors of society.
- Shift in Elite Recruitment Criteria: Over the past decades, the criteria for recruiting and promoting party elites have changed. Initially, family background, ideological loyalty, and political activism were emphasized. However, with the reform era, there has been a shift towards valuing educational credentials and managerial skills. This change has led to a significant increase in the educational level of CCP members.
- New Channels for Membership in the Politburo: In recent years, there has been a broadening of the recruitment channels for members of the Politburo. This includes the inclusion of individuals with backgrounds in think tanks, universities, and foreign affairs. This change in recruitment strategy reflects the evolving priorities and strategic objectives of the party under the leadership of Xi Jinping.
- Increasing CCP Membership among Private Entrepreneurs: The study highlights that the percentage of owners of private enterprises who are members of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has increased from 13 percent in 1993 to 34 percent. This indicates a growing presence of CCP members in the private business sector.
- Representation of Entrepreneurs and Executives in Political Leadership: Entrepreneurs and executives, especially in state-owned industries, are gradually gaining positions in national and local-level political leadership. The 19th Party Congress in 2017 saw an increase in the number of leaders with backgrounds in the aerospace industry entering the Central Committee.
- Xi Jinping’s Objectives in Bringing Business Executives into Leadership Roles: Xi Jinping’s decision to incorporate business executives, especially those in the aerospace industry, into top leadership positions serves several objectives. These include diversifying his power base, countering localism and factionalism, utilizing their business expertise for financial administration, and prioritizing China’s space program for national prestige.
- Newcomers have constituted an average of 64 percent of attendees at each of the five Party Congresses held between 1982 and 2017. The 2017 CCP Congress saw a turnover rate of 75 percent in the Central Committee, indicating a significant infusion of new leadership.
- The equal regional distribution of full membership seats on the CCP Central Committee has shifted the relationship between the central party-state and local authorities. This decentralization, stemming from China’s market reforms, has empowered local leaders, giving them a bigger stake in and influence over elite politics.
- The CCP leadership is influenced by two informal political coalitions: the elitist coalition and the populist coalition. The elitist coalition, led by Xi Jinping, represents business interests and China’s prosperous coastal regions. The populist coalition, led by Premier Li Keqiang, focuses on addressing economic inequalities, affordable housing, and social welfare. Despite their differences, both coalitions share common goals of ensuring China’s stability, economic growth, and the survival of CCP rule. They engage in both competition and cooperation in policy-making processes.
What are some characteristics of the Chinese Communist Party ?
It is one of the largest parties in the world.
It is a LENINIST PARTY.
It is a vanguard party (Lenin believes, unliked Marx, that the communist state will not simply emerge, it must be implemented) that became a leadership party.
There is technically 8 parties. Their leadership must be recognized by the party.
They are, for the most part, powerless. They are not a true opposition to the CCP.
How do the state and party cohabit in China ?
There is an overlap in state and party titles. Party titles are more important and are prioritized.
For example, President Xi is the General Secretary of the Party, and also the President of the People’s Republic.
What is the most important organ of the Chinese government ?
The standing committee of the polit bureau.
It is composed of 7 members.
Xi Jinping is one of the seven, Wang Huning also (he is in charge of ideology, discipline, economy).
This is rarely done, bu Xi centralized the power and holds all the most meaningful “ministries”.
What is the second most important organ of the Chinese government ?
The polit bureau.
It is composed of 25 members, 7 of which are the members of the standing committee.
What is the third most important organ of the Chinese government ?
The central committee.
It is composed of 200 members.
What is the fourth most important organ of the Chinese government ?
Party cells. They are found in universities, companies etc. and are meant to promote the ideology of the party.
Allows the CCP to have “eyes and ears at grass roots”.
How does this structure of government compare to that of the provinces or smaller scales of governance ?
This structure is replicated at the provincial level.
How does the selection of political representatives function in the Chinese government ?
Though in theory they should be selected by the organ below, members are selected by the organs above.
The members of the Standing Committee of the polit bureau are also selected behind closed doors.
How does one become a member of the CCP and describe the membership base of the party ?
There is recruitment, then an exam, and several interviews in certain cases.
The party has 95 M members - 1/13 people are members.
40 % of the party has a university degree. This number keeps growing.
1/4 members involved in agriculture.
6 % are industrial workers.
This is an elitist, somewhat secretive organization.
What domains does the party have control over, and which domains have become more controled by the state under Xi Jinping ?
Party leads everything in Chinese life.
Under President Xi, there is an increase pressure and control of the 1. media (must work for the party’s will and viewpoints), 2. the military and 3. individual’s personal lives.
It is still more liberal than under Mao.
What is Xinhua (1) ?
It is the state paper. Since the party controls the state, then it is effectively the party’s paper.
It can issue directives concerning what to report on, what to ignore, what to amplify, and which language should this be done in.
This agency requested no paper publish anything regarding rumours of censorship.
What is the state of the military under Xi Jinping (2) ?
He considers (like Mao) that the military’s first job to be the protection of the party.
It has 6 generals and President Xi at its head.
The military’s budget has been increased.
How has Xi Jinping’s governance influence the Chinese peoples’ personal lives (3) ?
The president appoints people to key leadership roles.
This is a way for the party to control without it being consent, direct monitoring.
Organizational departments appoint people from provinces, cities, banks, schools etc., and all these nominations are done behind closed doors.
How does the Party promote ideology under Xi Jinping ?
The central party school is responsible for that.
They develop ideology in youth promoting the three represents for example.
