CHANGES IN CHINA:Communism, Censorship, and Civil Society

Program for Teaching East AsiaCenter for Asian StudiesUniversity of Colorado Boulder

Jon Zeljo

Quiz: China, US, or both?

1. Its constitution grants the freedom of speech and press to its citizens.

Quiz: China, US, or both?

1. Its constitution grants the freedom of speech and press to its citizens.

– BOTH: In the Constitution of the People’s Republic of China, Article 35 stipulates that “citizens of the People’s Republic of China enjoy freedom of speech, of the press, of assembly, of association, of procession and of demonstration.” This phrase is often referred to as the “six great freedoms” (六大自由 ), and no limitations whatsoever are placed upon them (in the language of the Constitution).

Quiz: China, US, or both?

2. Its president is elected indirectly by its citizens.

Quiz: China, US, or both?

2. Its president is elected indirectly by its citizens.

– BOTH: The US has the Electoral College. In China, the President is elected by the National People’s Congress, whose delegates are elected by the provincial people’s congresses, who in turn are elected by lower level assemblies, and so on through a series of tiers down to the local people’s assemblies, whose delegates are elected directly by the people.

Quiz: China, US, or both?

3. Has term limits for its top leaders?

Quiz: China, US, or both?

3. Has term limits for its top leaders?– BOTH: In China, both the top government and

party leaders are limited to up to two 5-year terms.

Quiz: China, US, or both?

4. Second in the world in number of billionaires?

Quiz: China, US, or both?

4. Second in the world in number of billionaires?

– CHINA: @100 billionaires; 2nd behind the US, which has @400 billionaires (Forbes, Oct. 2012)

Quiz: China, US, or both?

5. Has 1.5 million millionaires?

Quiz: China, US, or both?

5. Has 1.5 million millionaires?– CHINA: The US has @5 million; Japan is 2nd with

@1.7 million; China is 3rd with @1.5 million (Time, June 2012)

Quiz: China, US, or both?

6. More micro-bloggers than any other country in the world.

Quiz: China, US, or both?

6. More micro-bloggers than any other country in the world.

– CHINA: More than 300 million micro-bloggers on Chinese Twitter-like sites (officially Twitter is not accessible, though still used).

Agenda• National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party

– What was it and what happened?

• Changes in China– Economic– Political– Civil Society– Freedom of Speech

• Case studies

18th National Party Congress• Party Congress is gathering

of representatives of the Chinese Communist Party, held every five years

• New leadership is selected• The representatives also

review and vote on Party policies

• The Party platform for the next five years is set

18th National Party Congress• Nov. 8-15, 2012• In theory, the congress

elects the top leaders, including the General Secretary of the CCP, but in practice these decisions are made in advance

• Xi Jinping was selected as the head of the Party, replacing Hu Jintao

18th National Party Congress

• There was much anticipation leading up this Party Congress:– 7 of the 9 very top leaders

had to retire because of age or term limits

– Bo Xilai affair indicated there might be some uncertainty in transition of power

– China’s rise (another instance of China on the world stage, along with the 2008 Summer Olympics)

18th National Party Congress

• Ultimately, it went off smoothly and mostly as the analysts predicted

• 3 surprises1. Jiang Zemin, former Party head, was very present and

held influence over selections of top leaders2. Hu Jintao, retiring Party head, relinquished his military

chairmanship, thereby institutionalizing an even smoother transition of power

3. Xi came off as very likeable, and perhaps a new type of leader who is more willing to connect with the average Chinese

Standing Committee of the Politburo

Changes in China:Economic

The Impact of the Economy• “Socialism with Chinese

Characteristics”• Socialist Market Economy• A mix between state-owned,

state-directed, and private businesses

• Transition was gradual and involved experimental activities on the part of the Party, government, and people

• Over the past 30 years, the annual growth has averaged 8% (it currently has “slowed” to 7.5%)

The Impact of the Economy• “Socialism with Chinese

Characteristics”• Socialist Market Economy• A mix between state-owned,

state-directed, and private businesses

• Transition was gradual and involved experimental activities on the part of the Party, government, and people

• Over the past 30 years, the annual growth has averaged 8% (it currently has “slowed” to 7.5%)

Downsides of Economic Growth• Widening gap between rich

and poor, urban and rural– Top 10% of households own

85% of all assets

• Rising costs of housing (in the last 10 years, home prices have quadrupled in Beijing)

• According to studies, overall life satisfaction has declined– For poorer Chinese, the major

pressure is to keep up with cost of living; for better-off Chinese, the major pressure is competition for promotion and recognition

Party’s Response

• In the 1980s, Deng Xiaoping said: “some people will get rich first.” In 2010, Premier Wen Jiabao said: “We aim to distribute wealth.”

• In his inaugural press conference, Xi Jinping never mentioned “economic growth.” Instead, he listed what Chinese want: education, stable job, good income, reliable social security, better health care, and to have a better life for ourselves and our children.

People’s Response (weibo post)

• “Actually most people don't have outsized expectations. They simply want a normal life -- a webpage can be opened normally, can buy a normal kitchen knife without being subject to real-name registration, eating at a normal restaurant without having to worry about ‘gutter oil,’ can buy a house through a normal process, can breath normal air ... today I heard a basically normal speech, and so there is some hope for giving normality a shot.”

New Leadership• Weibo post: “Assessing President Xi's speech: one, used language

and diction uncommon in these occasions, appeared endearing; two, immediately apologized to everyone for being late; three, mentioned leading the party and Chinese people, Chinese nation and state toward the path of co-prosperity, only mentioned ‘Chinese characteristics’ once, badass!; four, the word ‘people’ appeared many more times than ‘party.’”

• Expectations are high for this new leadership• Issues: slowing economy, widening income disparity, environmental

degradation, all of which is fueling social unrest• One of these expectations is political change that will help push

forward the development of a competitive market economy– China wants to avoid the “middle-income trap,” where expansion

slows because of a failure to implement reforms needed to create a wealthy middle class

Changes in China:Political

Perception of Political Reform in China

Political Reform

• Why reform?: corruption/mismanagement/non-implementation

• How reform?: transparency/accountability• Dilemma: How to fix the problems without

instituting multi-party competition• Experiment: elections at the local levels• Pageantry or Pathway to true democracy??

Party’s Stance• Hu Jintao in opening speech

of Party Congress:“In over 30 years of continuous and consistent exploration since the Reform and Opening Up, we have been unswervingly holding high the great banner of socialism with Chinese characteristics. Neither will we follow the old path of closed door and ossified politics, nor will we take to the evil road of changing our flags and banners.”

People’s Response (weibo posts)• “So it is neither left nor right?”• “Art of speaking. They tell you that they don’t go this way or that way, but they won’t tell

you what way they really go.”• “In a nutshell, no way.”• “Absolutely no way. Pity that billions of Chinese only get blood in return for their

tolerance.”• “It has poured cold water head-on over all the expectations for political reform. The door

to changes has been shut.”• “When the nation overlooks its people, the people will overlook the nation.”• “So the Imperialistic America must have been pretty astray on the evil way, and yesterday

[the 2012 US presidential election] was a classic example.”• “A country that uses the people as a shield and national conditions as a fig leaf to prevent

the democratization process. How can there be any advanced scientific progress if it is ruled with exploitation? No excuse can stop people’s desire for democracy. Any country that prevents the democratization process with authoritarian rule will ultimately perish.”

• “Idiots have something in common, which is: instead of using the bridge that is readily available, they love to cross the river by feeling the stone!”

Potential for Political Reform

• Buried deep in Hu’s speech: “…improve the system of socialist consultative democracy.”– This references an experiment started 10 years ago

and is the first ever mention of it in such an important speech/document

– The city of Wenling (Zhejiang Province) has formalized public consultation on public projects and government spending, although there is no voting and decisions remain with the government

– (Xi Jinping was the party head of Zhejiang Province during the deepening of the experiment)

Changes in China:Civil Society

Civil Society

• Civil society: organized groups independent of the government with voluntary memberships and civic aims

• Theory contends this doesn’t happen in an authoritarian country– Either government represses or incorporates

group into the state– No independent social organization

Civil Society in China“Associational Revolution”

Activities: – 45% social services– 40% industry or professional– 35% cultural– 25% legal aid and policy

advisory– 20% poverty alleviation

Greenpeace China, Yongding Gate, 2009

Year Groups

1988 4,500

2004 289,432

2009 400,000

Question

Why are groups like Greenpeace allowed to operate in China?

1. Corporatism: Even though these groups seem to be independent, they are actually appendages of the state, carrying out the state’s goals.

2. Democratization: This is actually a precursor of democratization; the fact that these groups are forming and want to participate in public policy means we’re seeing an early process of democratization in China.

Argument• Many groups are operationally independent (no corporatism)• However, not democratization either; instead, just better

governance under authoritarianism– Still an authoritarian regime, but the regime sees these groups as

beneficial (poverty alleviation, better health care, etc.)

• The Party calls this “consultative democracy” (Party builds consensus around policy decisions through consultation with relevant constituencies)

• Western scholars call it “consultative authoritarianism” (the simultaneous emergence of fairly autonomous civil society and more indirect mechanisms of social control)

“One Kilogram More”

• China’s demographic changes– rapid urbanization– “floating population”

• Social Services– geographical model (wherever

you are born is where you can receive social services)

• Problems– Declining of literacy rates– Test scores are significantly

lower among migrant children– Local officials are promoted

based on how well they provide social services (so, promotion pressures)

“One Kilogram More”

• Delimma: If legally we can’t offer social services to migrant workers, how do we get them what they need?

• Answer: Collaborate with non-profits– Grant competitions

“One Kilogram More”• Computer scientist used Google Maps

technology to create a map of migrant schools around Beijing

• He contacted the schools to determine needs (supplies, books, etc.)

• “Volun-tourists” can find a school in need and pack “one kilogram more” in their luggage to deliver it to the school. Afterwards, they update the website.

• The Beijing government gave the group a grant and even tried to increase its capacity

• In response to this collaboration, the government has changed how it deals with these organizations

• Eased registration• Increased funding (contracting with

government)• Capacity building

Consultative Authoritarianism Model

• Consultative policy sphere: independent groups participate in policy process– Not corporatism (competing groups independently design

& operate projects; policy participation is from outside of the state

• State control: more indirect & differentiated– Variation in relationships among the government and orgs

(differ among provinces, groups, and over time, with “good” groups treated differently than “bad” groups)

– Example: Oxfam (not overt repression or incorporation)

Significance of New Model

• State-society relationship: emergence of groups not indicator of democratization but better governance under authoritarianism

• Changing regulations: Party recognizes benefits of group activity and more and more seeks to work with these groups

Changes in China:Free Speech

Perception of Free Speech in China

Freedom of Speech• Western observers and governments

criticize China’s government for its lack of freedom of speech and control of the Internet

• China’s response: 1 billion TV viewers, 900 million cell phone users, 700 million radio listeners, 600 million internet users

– 65% of internet users “frequently” post online, 300 million micro-bloggers

• “vigorous online exchange” is a “major characteristic of China’s Internet development”

• “China is one of the countries in the world enjoying the most sufficient degree of freedom of expression and publication.”

Internet Growth

China’s Digital Landscape

Source: Resonance China, http://www.resonancechina.com

China’s Social Media1. BBS (bulletin board

systems/web forums)– mop.com, tianya.cn

2. Social Networks– renren.com,

kaixin001.com

3. Blogs– blog.sina.com.cn,

blog.sodu.com, hi.baidu.com

4. Microblogs– weibo.com (Sina),

t.qq.com (Tencent)Source: Resonance China, http://www.resonancechina.com

Sina’s Weibo (weibo.com)

Han Han• Race car driver, author,

singer, and China’s most popular blogger

• His favorite topics shifted from girls and cars to more sensitive ones such as Party corruption, censorship, pollution, income gap

“h.”—Han Han, October 8, 2010

“… There is however a silver lining to all this: in this era of housing, gas, electricity and water price inflation, at least government money making schemes have gone down in price, and when they have, they did so by close to 50%. When they’ve gone up, they did so only by a little, which proves the point that once our government decides to be generous, they get very generous indeed. Take the marriage registration fee: it went from 9 to 5 yuan (~USD 1.30 to 0.80). That is to say, if you get married three times in your life, then the government will save you exactly 12 yuan (~USD 2). Thanks a bunch.”

—Han Han, February 22, 2011

Source: Han Han Digest, http://www.hanhandigest.com

Censorship

• “Golden Shield Project” (aka Great Firewall of China)

• New censorship model:– “50 cent party” as a way

of the state directing the discussion

– Self-censorship by websites for fear that they will be shut down

Case Studies Task

• With the case study as a window into Chinese state and society:

1. Find 1 aspect of the story that fits our conventional perception of China

2. Find 1 aspect of the story that challenges our conventional perception of China

Reporting Out

1. Summarize your story in 1-2 sentences.

2. What aspects of the story fit with and challenge our conventional perception of China?