chinese leaders present flowers to heroes’ monument on national day
TRANSCRIPT
Organization of the People’s Republic of China
Parallel Hierarchies• The Communist Party (CCP)• The State (or Government)• The People’s Liberation Army
• Each track is separate, yet the CCP dominates the other two.
Principle of Dual Role
• Relationship between party and government.
• Vertical Supervision by the higher level.
• Horizontal Supervision of government by the party.
Chinese Communist Party
• China is a One-Party System.– No other parties can control power.– Through horizontal supervision, the CCP controls
government organizations.
• Mass Party System– One party represents the interests of the masses.
Structure of the CCP
General Secretary (1)
Standing Committee (7-9)
Politburo (Approx. 25)
Central Committee (Approx. 350)
National Party Congress (2,000+)
ELECTS OR APPOINTS
DIRECTS/OVERSEE
National Party Congress
• Members chosen from lower level governments.• Meet once every 5 years.• Not important for policy making.• Appoint Central Committee.
Central Committee
• Meet annually for a week (“plenum”).• Choose Politburo and Standing Committee.• Little influence on policy.
Politburo and Standing Committee
• Democratic Centralism.• Craft China’s policy.• Not accountable to other levels of CCP.• Standing Committee members
are from the Politburo.• Oversee ministries
Politburo and Standing Committee
• “Collective Responsibility”• Decisions made in secret.• Lack of TRANSPARENCY.– Operate openly?– Keep citizens informed
of process?– Accountable to citizens?
General Secretary
• Formerly “Chairman”• Now, works more
collectively with Politburo.• Less powerful during Era of
Deng Xiaoping.
Deng Xiaoping• Didn’t have an official
leadership position.• “Paramount Leader”
Party Elders
• Important in post-Mao Era.• “Retired” party leaders who
continue to influence members of Politburo.
• “GUANXI”– Importance of personal
connections/relationships in China.
– Old-Boys Network.– Type of “PATRON-CLIENT
NETWORK”
Patron-Client NetworkPATRON
• Provides power/services
• Deng Xiaoping (paramount leader) – Helps career of next
generation of leaders.
CLIENT
• provides loyalty/supportDeng’s Proteges
• General Secretary & President Jiang Zemin (1993-2003)
• General Secretary & President Hu Jintao (2003-2013)
“Chinese Promotion Puts Official on Track for Presidency.”
General Secretary/President Hu Jintao on left.Vice President Xi Jinping on right.
Consider some of the concerns from the video.
• According to the clip, why is authoritarianism good for business?
• Does political freedom=economic instability?• Would “rampant democracy” be bad for
China?• Who seems to benefit from authoritarianism
in China?• Who would benefit from democracy in China?
Technocrats in the Politburo
• Technocrats– Highly-educated bureaucrats/leaders who make
decisions based on technical expertise.• 8 of 9 Standing Committee are Engineers.– Hu: Hydraulic Engineer– Xi Jinping: Chemical Engineer
• Contrast with Mao Era– Revolutionary leaders had little to no higher education.
• Chinese tradition of bureaucratic hierarchy based on scholarship.
Communist Party Rank and File
• Between 70-80 million members.• 80% male• Receive perks• Advancement through Nomenklatura and Guanxi
Candidates• Screened and tested• Must be backed by existing member (Guanxi)• Training and probationary period• 2001: Officially began accepting capitalists.
“Young, Gifted, and Red”
Answer these questions in your notebook.
1. List several reasons why younger people are joining the communist party.
2. Explain why Western-style democracy is not a high priority.
3. According to the article, what’s more important?
Structure of the Government• Three branches of
government– Executive, Legislative,
Judicial• All controlled by CCP.– Not independent
National People’s Congress (NPC)
• Unicameral• 1982 Constitution: the
“most powerful” part of the state.
• Reality: Largely a rubber stamp for CCP
• NPC meets for two weeks every year.
• Picks President – but chooses from a list
of one candidate.
Members• Approx. 3,000 deputies• 5-year term• Elected by deputies of
provincial congresses.• Large Majority are CCP• 80% male
Executive Branch
• Head of State: President
• Largely Ceremonial• Negotiates with world leaders• Last two General Secretaries have
been President• Technically appoints Prime
Minister (Premier)
• Head of Government: Premier (Prime Minister)
• Directs the State Council (Bureaucracy)
• Oversees implementation of policy
• Can serve two five-year terms• A CCP Standing Committee member
Executive Branch
State Council• Cabinet of approx. 40 members• Direct the massive bureaucracy• Members determined by CCP leaders
Bureaucracy• “Cadres:” Bureaucrats paid by government or CCP.– Approx. 40 million cadres.– Vast majority work at county level or lower.– Must retire by age 70.
Executive Branch
Central Military Commission (CMC)• Controls the People’s Liberation Army (PLA)
– Largest in the world in size (3 million active; 1 million reserve)– Largely responsible for Mao’s rise to power.
• Powerful and influential• Last two General Secretaries/Presidents have also
been the CMC chair.
“The Party commands the gun, and the gun must never be allowed to command the party.”
• Chairman Mao