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?