POLIT

ICAL AND ECONOMIC

CHANGE IN CHINA

B Y : PA T R I C

K SH A N

OVERVIEWChina undergoes a series of regime changes from dynastic to

an economic powerhouse.• Dynastic Empire• Republic• Isolationist, Authoritarian, Communism• Global, Authoritarian, Mixed-Market

POLITICS AND ECONOMICS DURING THE DYNASTIESRight to Rule: Mandate of Heaven• New Ruler comes to power• Brings peace and prosperity• Natural disasters cause chaos• Old ruler is deposed and replaced.Economically (depending on the dynasty):• Trading power, demanding tribute from neighboring states.• Isolationist (After Zheng He’s 15th century voyage, the

emperor decreed no large trading vessel could every leave ports).

POLITICS DURING THE REPUBLIC (KMT/GMT)After a devastating defeat at the hands of Foreigners, the Qing

Dynasty was removed and a Republic was put in place known as the Kuomingtang/Guomingtang.

Notable Leaders:• Sun Yat-sen (1911-1913)• Founder/Father of ROC

• Yuan Shikai (1913-1916)• Death sent China spiraling into another Warlord period.

• Chiang Kai Shek/ Jiang Jieshi (1925-1949)• Violently anti-communist

INTRO TO MAOIST CHINA (1949-1978)Mao Zedong• Born as a peasant• Worked in university library, became interested in Marxist

works.• 1927 led other communist followers to escape from Chiang’s

Communist Purge on The Long MarchMaoismGreat Leap ForwardCultural Revolution

MAOISMPower to Peasant• Unlike Marxism-Leninism which focused on the urban

proletariat, Maoism focused on peasants as a revolutionary force to be led by the Communist Party

Military Element• Contained sections on how to mobilize the peasantry

as a force of change.Legacy• Mao Zedong is considered a great leader in China,

however Maoism is considered a economic and political disaster by the Communist Party of China.

ECONOMIC CHANGES (MAO ZEDONG)Surpass Britain’s steel production in 15 years, the US in 20.• Huge communes consisting of thousands of

households.• Backyard Steel Furnaces that produced unusable

steel.Economic Consequences• Iron production increased by 45% in the 1958, 30%

over 1959 and 1960, but plummeted in 1961. In 1964 China had reached 1958’s production levels again.

Other Facts• Greatest real estate destruction in history (30-40%

of houses were destroyed for materials).• Creation of Agricultural Communes

POLITICAL CHANGES (MAO ZEDONG)Period of mass hysteria and purges. (Cultural Revolution)• Political Purges led to individuals losing their positions within

the party. This led to vacant positions with Mao supporters receiving high level positions.• Economic activity halted with “revolution” being more

important.

Gang of Four• Extremist political faction headed by Mao’s last wife.• Concerned itself with the “Revolution”• Lost power in Mao’s last year.

DENG XIAOPING (1978-1997)Second Generation Leader of China responsible for

economic reform.

“It does not matter if a cat is white or black as long as it catches mice” – Deng Xiaoping on creating a market economy in order to help the economy recover.

Similarities have been drawn to Lenin’s New Economic Policy. (open market with state control of industries).

Considered part of the Eight Elders, a group of elderly men with substantial political power in China during the 1980s and 1990s.

ECONOMIC CHANGES (DENG XIAOPING)High industrial and agricultural growth over 20 years.

Rural: Moved away from communes, encouraged producing as much as possible, then selling the surplus.

Open Door Trading Policy: Opened up China to foreign businesses that would like to enter the market through the creation of Special Economic Zones, areas with free-market oriented policies and relaxed regulations.

CHINA’S NOMINAL GDP.

POLITICAL CHANGES (DENG XIAOPING)Stance on Cultural Revolution• Admitted that Mao did not do a good job leading the

country.• Silenced critics who received their positions through

the Cultural Revolution• Was purged twice, built credibility for himself.

Allowed criticism of the government (for a bit) known as the Democracy Wall Movement.

POLITICAL CHANGES (DENG XIAOPING) 2Deng Xiaoping Theory (Four Modernizations)• Uphold the basic communist spirit• Uphold the dictatorial political system• Uphold the leadership of the CPC• Uphold Marxism-Leninism and Maoist theory.

JIANG ZEMIN (1997-2002)Known for:• Foreign Policy• Return of Hong Kong• Return of Macau

• Economic Reforms• Substantial Developmental Growths

Handpicked by Deng Xiaoping for not resorting to violence during the Tiananmen Square protests.

First Leader to step down before death.

POLITICS CHANGES (JIANG ZEMIN)Foreign Policy• First Summit held between the U.S. and China• Entered the WTO in 2001• Return of Hong Kong and Macau.

Three Represents: What does the party represent.• Development trends of advanced productive forces =

Economic Production• Orientations of an advanced culture = Cultural

Development• Fundamental interests of the overwhelming majority of

people = Political Consensus

ECONOMIC CHANGES (JIANG ZEMIN)Navigated the Asian Financial Crisis.

Joined the WTO in 2001

Encouraged private business and opened Party membership to the wealthy.

Relaxed state control over some industries

Presided over the most successful economic era of China

HU JINTAO (2003-2013)Selected by Deng Xiaoping to succeed Jiang

Zemin.

First leader to not have Revolution credentials.

Aimed to close the gap between the rich and the poor caused by the GDP first, welfare second policies.

ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL CHANGES (HU)Movement away from economic growth towards

fixing social problems.

Sought to improve socio-economic inequality through the Scientific Development Concept (SDC) to create a “Socialist Harmonious Society”

• GDP growth projects from local governments (used to pad stats) were contributing to economic inequality.• Movement from “economic growth” to “social harmony”

8 DO’S AND DON’T’SLove the motherland, do not harm it.Serve, don’t disserve the peopleUphold science, don’t be ignorant and

unenlightened.Work hard, don’t be lazyBe united and help each other, don’t benefit at the

expense of others.Be honest, not profit-mongeringBe disciplined and law-abiding, not chaotic and

lawless.Know plain living and hard struggle, do not

wallow in luxuries.

XI JINPINGCurrent leader of China.

Current Goals:• Combat corruption• Market Reforms• Open Approach to Governing

Slogan: Chinese Dream

ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL CHANGES (XI)Chinese Dream : “Moderately well off society”• Strong (economy, politics, science)• Civilized (equality, culture, morals)• Harmonious (amity)• Healthy (environment, healthcare)

Goals:• Doubling 2010 GDP per capita• Urbanization• Leading in technology, business, science• Resurgence of Chinese military and culture