Why is China characterised as a 'Party-State' - Essay Example

Party China China also known as People’s Republic of China is a typical country located in East Asia.It covers approximately 3.7-kilometer square miles of land hence the second largest state in the world area wise. It is one of the most populated countries in the world with an approximate of 1.3 billion people. (Haggett, 2002:2386). Facts surrounding the general governance of such a large country agree it is a complex matter to deal with. Formal examinations done in a number of cities within China conform to this claim. However, putting focus on structural party membership shows that what is happening is largely contributing to state-party character. This is evident in that, the State of China has a system of governance that does not allow any other candidate to vie for any seat in the general elections since it is a single-party state. Reformers characterize People’s Republic of China as a state-party country due to several factors. For instance, since 1949 there has been only one party ruling all over the State of China (Shambaugh, 2009: 4). This party, Chinese Communist Party, often deals with dissents brutally and does not tolerate opposition. This State has bodies that that facilitate adjacent ruling throughout different channels of command within all its governing arms that include judiciary, legislature, and executive. There are also other governing organizations and bodies in China that include; politburo, national people’s congress, courts and prosecutors, party elders, discipline commission, state council, military affairs commission, armed forces, and provinces and townships all charged with different powers and tasks. The most senior organization or body, politburo, is in charge of decision-making with its members facing no competition from anyone during elections, thanks to their survival instincts in a political culture whereby saying anything wrong can result to a life under house-arrest, or even worse. Politburos also make it to the top due to their abilities as well as their patrons support. It is the ruling party that dominates the over all outcome of these decisions made by the politburo. Additionally, people characterize People’s Republic of China as state-partied because power stems in a dynasty for long. What elaborates this is the force granted to administrators serving in the ruling party. Influence of leaders runs across all those loyalties created by him or her within the organization of a family. In this case, Chinese belief that personal relationship with leaders from the ruling party counts more than a title of a job. A distinctive example of such scenarios is the way Deng Xiaoping continued being a paramount leader even after resigning from all his official post long ago. This reveals the reason why elders in the party are critical during critical decision-making. Moreover, the ruling party, Chinese Communist Party, established measures to curb the rising focus on ways of making China a multi-party state, as they would mean competition. Therefore, the party is strengthening its organizational tools by extending further to involve successful businesspersons in its organization. Within China, there is an existing belief that Chinese Communist Party is a by-gone thing and can barely withstand or survive in the world’s modern globalization process (Burns, 2003:776). Nevertheless, the party is assuring itself continuum by reaching and gaining enough strength from other organizations and institutions within the new social strata of China’s executives. Consequently, from people’s perspective, it is a redefined but still a centralized government. In addition, is has a central role from the same party, which has been in existence for a long time, hence characterized as a state-party country (Sato & Eto, 2008:654). Political analysts characterize the State of China as a state-party country since independent candidates are facing daunting obstacles to their wish in becoming leaders in People’s Republic of China. In Beijing, China, a huge number of Chinese seek to run as independent candidates but they face astonishing obstacles as the ruling party tamps down all efforts threatening its monopoly on power (Brdsgaard & Zheng, 2006:53). China portrays state-party characteristics because it drowns desires for peaceful transition. The Communist Party of China practices authoritarianism and does not give room for greater and accountable governance. The party suppresses independent candidates as they all claim they only want to exercise politically charged rights like democracy given by the Chinese constitution but rarely permitted by the state-party government, which is authoritarian administration body. Chinese Communist Party officials do not affiliate with other parties or institutions that oppose their party rule. However, there are eight other dormant political parties approved by government as a scheme to show that China upholds democracy. Party officials do not encourage or rather allow ties with candidates from those political parties as presence of those parties is just but pretence of democracy. Those candidates who try to force their way in do not make it further. Law enforcing institutions like Police, in conjunction with party officials predictably respond with violence, threats, as well as disqualifying them on technicalities if other means do not work (Chan, 2004:705). Theses actions deterring all attempts for democratic governance characterize China as a state-party nation. Currently, the reforming aspects underway tried to transform the political administration in China but their efforts are bearing little change. The eight democratic parties have capability to supervise matters pertaining implementation taken by the Chinese Communist Party but practically they cannot take part in ruling the country because of the ruling party’s dominance (Kornberg, & Faust, 2005:84).The democratic parties can only supervise constitution implementation and regulate laws. This aspect is identical and unique since strengthening and improving leadership of the ruling party is vital. Following the supervision, China’s socialist system is improving. Nonetheless, even with inclusion of the eight democratic parties, the governance of China remains centralized in one party. Political scientists find it hard to categorize China different from state-party country. Another characteristic making China remain categorized as a state-party nation is its zero tolerance to Western system of multi-party ruling. Chinese political leaders point out that, China’s current political unrest, social disorder, and hard economic times make it impossible for China to approve multi-party governance as such a move would unleash violence. They support this claim by saying that, other countries ruled by more than one party act as proof. In addition, China believes that Western parliamentary democratic system of governance is not suitable to them (Saich, 2005:38). Although it seems hard to belief, political analysts find the China’s justified inability to allow multi-party leadership a strategic measure for Chinese Communist Party to remain in power and avoid competition. China has a huge gap of political and social activities. The reforms between the two do not conform to success of the nation’s economy. Complex matters and problems that include; degradation of environment, yawning gap of wealth, regular reports of corruption, high inflation, millions of strong ethnic groups demands for autonomy, and abusive officials inflaming the public receive no address. These issues can receive easy address if democratic flexibility can have permission (Friedman, & Wong, 2008:259). However, the government is struggling to meet these wants and needs since the current system of administration cannot afford democracy thus remaining a state-party dominated country (Gilley, 2005:202). What the state-party status achieved for Chinese people is what makes analysts characterize China as a state-party nation. From 1966-1976, China experienced a serious war led by the Cultural Revolutionary leader Mao Zedong that left undocumented numbers of dead people. Mao Zedong influenced people to fight against what he termed as “capitalist forces”. This influence saw students turning against their tutors, purging of officials, and virtual economic standstill. Since then, China enjoyed a long period of political and economic growth while under administration of a single party. Recently, President Hu Jintao praised Chinese Communist Party ruling and depicted not even a single sign of party intention to loosen grip (Chow, 2004:174). This ability of this party to maintain more than six tumultuous decades characterizes China as a state-party dominated country. The China’s state-party characteristic runs deep through its establishment to its demonstrated political foresight and wisdom of the ruling Chinese Communist Party. The founding officials of this party realized that, for this party to succeed, it was vital that the party unite with other organizations and institutions such as peasant class, the petty-bourgeoisie, the national bourgeoisie, and any other revolutionary political parties (Lin, Liu & Hu, 2003:4). After bringing all these segments together, the party became popular and deep-rooted and thoroughly opposed feudalism and imperialism. This shows that the other organizations remain dominated by the ruling party. On succeeding, this party established close relationship with these segments based on mutual trust, respect, and close corporation. With such a unified and extensive support mass support, the party remained in power since then up to date and continues to enjoy its fruits of strategic measures. China remains characterized as a state-party country because the constitution of People’s Republic of China provides a law that only permits one party rule. This single party exercises power throughout China assisted by the Central People’s Government together with help of provincial and local counterparts. The process of administration remains coequally carried out as every bureau remains under authority of its subsequent leader and the higher office under its corresponding head or ministry (Lieberthal, 2004:7). During elections, voters elect leaders to the People’s Congress at county level. This is very vital to people of China as these leaders acquire responsibility of overseeing local government activities hence Chinese portray that state-party governance is there to last. In summary, political analysts classify China as a state-party country due to the ability of the ruling party’s authority that rests primarily on the government. This single-party policy helps the country maintain social stability, personnel party control, nationalism and patriotism appeal, security apparatus, and the media as well as continued people’s living standards (Blondeau, Buffettrille & Weijing, 2008:57). The constitution of People’s Republic of China provides for an independent judicial arm that operates singly. Nevertheless, in practice at both central and local levels, the government and Chinese Communist Party extends its dominance in controlling the judicial activities, processes, and direct verdicts. Bibliography Blondeau, A., Buffettrille, K. & Weijing. 2008. Authenticating Tibet: answers to China's 100 Questions. California: University of Carlifornia. Brdsgaard, K. E. & Zheng, Y. 2006. The Chinese Communist Party in reform. Routledge: Taylor & Francis. Chow, G. 2004. Knowing China. New Jersey: World Scientific. Chan, S. H. 2004. Cadre personnel Management in China: The Nomenklatura System, 1990-1998. Sato, H. & Eto, K. 2008. The Changing Structure of Communist Party membership in urban China, 1988-2002. Journal of Contemporary China, 17 (57), 653-672. Friedman, E. & Wong, J. 2008. Political transitions in dominant party systems: learning to lose. Routledge: Taylor & Francis. 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State Capacity and Local Agent Control in China: CCP Cadre Management from a Township perspective. The China Quarterly. Read More