1 today: ideology what is an ideology? a belief system that specifies the nature of the “good...
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Today: Ideology
What is an ideology? A belief system that
specifies the nature of the “good society” and
how to achieve it Not “testable”; not subject to
evaluation based on evidence
Ideologies
Ideologies, belief systems relevant to contemporary China Confucianism Legalism Liberalism Nationalism Marxism-Leninism Maoism
Confucianism
Examples of Confucianism’s relevance today?
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Confucianism
Ideal of social harmony
Through knowing one’s place 4 bonds
Ruler/minister Father/son Husband/wife Elder/younger
Benevolence Deference
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Confucianism
Importance of moral exemplars and correct thinking/behavior Especially by
Emperor Elites
Self-cultivation Following moral
exemplars Through education
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Confucianism
Conservative ideology that idealizes the past
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Confucian Ideology
Mandate of heaven
“Right to rebel” When rulers
neglect their subjects’ well-being
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How did a benevolent ruler deserving of the “Mandate of Heaven” rule?
Normal functions of the Qing State Propagation of
ideology, perpetuation of system of rule
Tax collection Maintenance of public
order Maintenance of basic
infrastructure Provision of minimal
social welfare and relief
Losing the “Mandate of Heaven”
Normal functions of the Qing State progressively undermined
by internal and external sources of decline in the 19th Century.
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Internal Sources of Decline in the 19th Century
“Phenomenal” population increase Increasing economic competition for
survival Corruption of regime Series of major rebellions
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Series of Major Rebellions in 19th C
Taiping Rebellion (1850-1864) Nian Rebellion (1853-1868) Others
suppressed by provincial armies outside of central state control
Est. 100 million deaths in rebellions
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Losing the “Mandate of Heaven”
Qing Dynasty seen as losing the “Mandate of heaven”
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External Sources of Decline in the 19th Century
Defeat in wars with Western powers and Japan Opium Wars
1839-1842 1856-1860
Sino-Japanese War 1894-1895
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External Sources of Decline in the 19th Century
Imperialism posed fundamental challenge to belief system
Traditional exam system abolished 1905
Contrast: Macartney Mission 1793
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Confucianism
How did Confucianism itself come to be discredited among intellectuals and students by the 20th Century ？
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The Shadow of Confucianism
Introduce discussion groups
What is the “shadow of Confucianism”?
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The Shadow of Confucianism
What is democracy? PercentResponding
Procedural 24.6Minben (substantive) 14.1Mixed 4.6Incoherent 14.7Don’t know 42.0
*minben ( 民本 )Source: Shijian Tian & Jie Lu, “The Shadow of Confucianism”Survey of 3,183 PRC residents
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The Shadow of Confucianism
Confucian notion of minben “Rulership should be entrusted to those
with superior knowledge and virtue” Legitimacy is defined by substance: how
well the regime performs and cares for its people
“Ordinary citizens have the right to participate only under extreme conditions—if a rule loses the “Mandate of Heaven”
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The Shadow of Confucianism
What is democracy? PercentResponding
Procedural 24.6 potential challenge to regime
Minben (substantive) 14.1Mixed 4.6Incoherent 14.7Don’t know 42.0
* “minben” ( 民本 )
Source: Shijian Tian & Jie Lu, “The Shadow of Confucianism”
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The Shadow of Confucianism
What is democracy? PercentResponding
Procedural 24.6Minben (substantive) 14.1 potential support for
regime
Mixed 4.6Incoherent 14.7Don’t know 42.0
*minben ( 民本 )Source: Shijian Tian & Jie Lu, “The Shadow of Confucianism”Survey of 3,183 PRC residents
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The Shadow of Confucianism
What is democracy? PercentResponding
Procedural 24.6Minben (substantive) 14.1Mixed 4.6Incoherent 14.7Don’t know 42.0 not threatening for
regime
*minben ( 民本 )
Source: Shijian Tian & Jie Lu, “The Shadow of Confucianism”Survey of 3,183 PRC residents
Take home message
What is an ideology? A belief system that
specifies the nature of the “good society” and how to achieve it
Confucianism Ideal of social harmony through knowing one’s place
Superior Moral exemplar Benevolent to inferiors Benevolent leaders enjoy legitimacy (mandate of heaven)
Inferior Owes deference to superiors
Discredited in context of Qing Dynasty’s failure to respond to
Internal challenges—economic development External challenges—imperialism
Revival of Confucianism to legitimate contemporary CCP
Nationalism
Rise of nationalism in early 20th C
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Nationalist Party (founded 1912) KMT kuo-min-tang 国民党 guomindang
Sun Yat-sen Nationalist
ideology “Three People’s
Principles” Nationalism Democracy People’s livelihood
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Chinese Communist Party (founded 1921) CCP 共产党 gongchandang
Marxism-Leninism Radical, egalitarian Emphasis on
Social transformation
National self-determination
Next class: importance of nationalism in CCP platform/agenda
CCP co-founder Chen Duxiu
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Marxism
Economy (material foundation) “It is not the consciousness of men
that determines their existence, but, on the contrary, their social (material) existence determines their consciousness.”
“Scientific” theory of the development of history
Feudalism Capitalism Socialism Communism
Class Based on relationship to means of
production In the case of capitalism
Owners of capital Suppliers of labor
(proletariat) Class conflict
Drives politics Logic of capitalist competition
necessitates increasing exploitation of workers
Mass of workers would eventually overthrow the few capitalists
Note that socialism follows developed capitalism
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Leninism
New kind of political party
Bolshevik Party Conspiratorial,
vanguard party Leads nascent
working class Activists organize “in
the workers’ interest” Democratic centralism
party discipline Contributed analysis of
imperialism as highest stage of capitalism
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Maoism
Voluntarism Where there’s a will
there’s a way Mass mobilization
Egalitarianism
Self-reliance
“Red” vs. “Expert”
Revolutionary potential of the peasantry
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Confucianism and Maoism
Mao rejected Confucianism, but notice:
Cultivation of moral/political exemplars
“Redness” not “expertise”
Will/Voluntarism Idea that “the key to
effective action lies in first transforming the hearts of men” comes from the Confucian tradition.
Un-Marxist
Wrap-up
Today—’isms Next class
Develop theme of nationalism Bianco: “Nationalism and Revolution” Also, what happened to Liberalism?
Introduce theme of revolutionary change Perry on the Chinese peasantry
Rebellious tradition of peasantry Predatory vs. protective strategies of peasant survival
Primary source Mao, “Report on an Investigation of the Peasant
Movement in Hunan” In lecture: how did the CCP mobilize peasant
support?