State and Society in 20th Century China - Essay Example

and Society in 20th Century China Question Deng-era political reforms Deng is considered to be a great reformer. He turned upside down previous traditions of Mao’s government. His great reforms gave his name to political and economic changes in the county from 1978. International affairs and political reform was high on the agenda for this ruler. He used a complex approach to economic reform. A holistic approach to changes made Deng-era a landmark in Chinese history. On the basis of crucial role of leadership and through strategic directions of economic reforms led to totalitarian regime of the country. Political reforms made it possible “to fight corruption, remove superfluous political intrusion in the economy and launch the rule of law, democratic culture and democratic institutions” (Li, 2003). Deng’s policy made a great emphasis on correct organizational line. His ideas made policy of China well-structured and coherent. He took into account experiences of previous years under guidance of Mao. Deng insisted that this politician had a lot of achievements and though he had mistakes in his policy, the first and foremost were his advances. Thus Deng was guided by concept of socialism: “The ends justify the means.” Further on Deng made out a perfect unification of Communist Party strategies and Chinese cultural issues. “Socialism with Chinese characteristics” was of his primary concern (Gittings, 2005). An open policy, integration of Four Cardinal principles (following path of socialism, support of the dictatorship of the proletariat, guidance by the Communist Party and Marxism-Leninism and Mao Zedong Thought) political and economic reforms signified Deng’s policy (Gittings, 2005). His policy had two basic poles: socialist democracy development and intensification of socialist legal system (Gittings, 2005). A holistic approach to changes made Deng-era a landmark in Chinese history. On the basis of crucial role of leadership and through strategic directions of economic reforms led to totalitarian regime of the country. If to sum up his political reforms, they were as follows: innovations of state apparatus, development of incentives among working class people. He claimed on delegation of power from governmental level to lower levels and further cooperation on all power levels. Deng’s policy made a great emphasis on correct organizational line. His ideas made policy of China well-structured and coherent. Of course, his political incentives were hard to be embodied to the fullest extent, thus it required a complex political approach. Question 2 Deng’s economic reform Economic system has also undergone great shifts. The main points of economic reforms introduced by Deng were “modernization of agriculture, industry, science and technology and the military. The strategy for achieving these aims of becoming a modern, industrial nation was the socialist market economy” (Lieberthal, 2004). The main obstacle in quick achievement of Deng’s economic reforms was previously accepted ideology of Mao Deng suggested scattering off potential perfection by Communist party of socialism characteristics in China. Deng focused his attention on diminishing of communitarian values’ role and partial preservation of the ideology of Marxism-Leninism. He insisted on the statement that planned economy was a way to successful economic activity through planned market economy. Consequently, a relevant underpinning of successful economy was a flexible politics conducted by Deng. He rejected ideas of capitalistic countries’ policies and insisted on liberation and development of production system (Lieberthal, 2004). He agreed on right-and left-wing deviations. The phenomenon of Deng was in centralization of reformist ideas under his guidance. Thus, the Four Modernization was initiated by Premier Zhou Enlai and an experiment of household-responsibility system was supported Deng’s government. He was not an innovator himself; he was a supporter of innovations, actually. Therefore economy under guidance and supervision of Deng implied the involvement of well-structured and “planned centralized management of macro-economy headed by bureaucrats with strong technical skills” (Gittings, 2005). Moreover Deng emphasized on the primary concern of agricultural productivity and supported a dramatic decentralization of decision initiatives in agricultural economy and individual peasant households (Gittings, 2005). Locally, he directed his forces on material encouragement of work forces. Furthermore, local municipalities and provinces had possibilities to make investments into the most cost-effective industries (growth of light manufacturing investment). As far as we can see, Deng’s reforms directed China to light industry development and export. An output of light industry played a crucial role for a developing country based on a low capital. Having gathered incomes from all the abovementioned spheres, China managed to develop technological production and other investments. Nevertheless, there existed certain obstacles for successful reforms’ implementation. Thus Deng directed potential deposits into state-owned industries thus having withdrawn capitals from banking systems partially. Consequently, he initiated an industrial revolution. Political outcomes of his reforms made it possible to initiate Special Economic Zones, which encouraged “where foreign investment and market liberalization” (Gittings, 2005). Question 3 Role in the Tiananmen Square protests In an awful tragedy of Tiananmen Square (June 1989) in China Deng is usually blamed. The policy of his government such as China’s open-door policy, which caused incredibly high inflation rates, corruption, and social dissatisfaction of governmental policy, together with fading obedience of the communist ideology caused mass disturbances (Lieberthal, 2004). In order to penetrate into the core of this protest, it is necessary to take into account organizational structure and participants of the movement. A cruel massacre should be properly studied while its consequences influenced China’s policy. Moreover, such underpinnings of the protest as struggle of political views between Zhao Ziyang (Party General Secretary) and conservative representative Premier Li Peng (Gittings, 2005). Another probable underpinning of the protest can be seen in breaking down of CCP’s regime and total rule of society. Chinese cultural values were collided with Communist ideology thus leading to deaths of innocent people. Generally speaking, the Tiananmen Square protests (1989) resulted in cruel Massacre after death of Hu Yaobang (Gittings, 2005). This political activist was supported by Deng as reformer and people, being dissatisfied by the delay of his funerals, initiated mourning in the streets. Nevertheless, people didn’t want to mourn, they wanted to reach economic liberation, democratic reforms and express their dissatisfaction with Deng’s regime. Ally of Deng in market economy, General Secretary Zhao Ziyang was together with demonstrators. Government went to concessions to anti-reform communists. Deng considered strong underpinnings of Western World intervention in Chinese policy (Gittings, 2005). He considered that their main intention was to discard communist ideas and instill capitalistic ideas. With the purpose of penetration into the core of this protest, it is necessary to take into account organizational structure and participants of the movement. A cruel massacre should be properly studied while its consequences influenced China’s policy. The main blame, of course, is put on Deng’s government who attracted protesters by their oversight policy. Of course, General Secretary Zhao Ziyang is directly guilty in this protest, while, as it was mentioned above, he was together with protesters. Another wave of social indignation can be seen in Deng’s replacement of Zhao by Zemin. Deng was led by the feeling that if this man has put up conflicts in Beijing, he would be able to tackle this burst of indignation in1989 too. Pro-reform moods of Zemin was his another advantage and was a signal of that country cared not about human lives, but about economy of the country. Question 4 Leadership succession in China The phenomenon of Deng came to the end from 1978. There was a need for successor while a great reformer became inadequate and lost his ability to govern. There were scares and a feeling of uncertainty and we can clearly see that political system of China is perfectly characterized by this fact. A complication of further leadership succession can be traced on the example of Hu Yaobang and Zhao Ziyang. The former of him was removed in 1987 but he quit peacefully with no personal pretensions. His successor, Ziyang, was uplifted on the wave of the Tiananmen demonstrations. Reformist ideas of Ziyang attracted support from the society. Nevertheless he was quickly substituted by Zemin, a reformer with structured ideas and pacifier of mass conflicts with reach experiences (Gittings, 2005). Zemin succession was also marked by his reformer ideas which would be beneficial for Chinese progress and development. Government of China made a leader’s succession for its own benefit. Moreover, in their choice of future leader, Chinese government relied on his ideas and thus was led into mystery while new leaders had veiled interests and didn’t fulfill his ideas completely (e.g. Ziyang policy which led to oversight and deaths of innocent people). As far as we can see, succession of leadership in China was a made in a great pace. One leader followed another and their ideas were mixed up. Therefore the society had vague imagination over real intentions of politics and their activities. The one thing is obvious in Chinese succession system: whoever was on top he’s a mysterious phenomenon. After death of Yaobang in 1989 there was a wave of democracy movement which underlined internal instability of Chinese political system (Tiananmen Square). Other successors lacked resources of predecessors and newly named successor quickly lost his authoritative image, having blackmailed his policy. Consequently, the one way out for future successors is propagation of his policies beforehand and next to ideas of current leader. No matter whether these ideas are equal or not, nation is the only judge. No matter which ideas were of primary concern of any leader, the main goal of Chinese policy was to reach prosperity. Question 5 Decentralization of power Deng’s reform policy can be valued due to his attempts to decentralize regions and provinces. In such a way he made a great contribution to industrial output and growth of export (Gittings, 2005). Nevertheless, having endowed provinces with power while they had a great economic weight, Deng’s government came across difficulties during formulation of concrete and effective political decisions. Government gave incredible power to provinces and almost endowed them with autonomist power. Deng had to reap the fruits of his political activities in such a way that he took under consideration re-centralization of municipals and provinces. In such a way there was a possibility to evoke massive protests and central power overthrown. On the one hand, his reform can be justified while 80 per cent of Chinese lived in rural territories (Gittings, 2005). Consequently, this reform resulted in sky-rocket rise of peasants’ living standard. In order to unify rural and urban reforms, Deng demanded great responsibility and control on local levels. having endowed provinces with power while they had a great economic weight, Deng’s government came across difficulties during formulation of concrete and effective political decisions. In order to increase efficiency of policy-making, Deng introduced 4 special economic zones which opened doors for other countries. He was right and increased efficiency of his policy during cooperation with other countries. It was hard to lead policy in rural areas, but Deng insisted on its primary role in Chinese economy. He suggested such kind of model: on the example of hard working peasants, who thanks to their hard work reached success, he arouse interest to work and initiated other peasants to follow this model. As far as we can see, Deng had a perfect political insight and dealt with hardships easily. Question 6 Re-legitimating ideology of CCP Chinese approach to redirection of its ideology was based on general concept of post-revolutionary regime transformation. The first stage of its ideological shifts was marked by economic and political changes. The second stage was directed on ideological changes. Legitimating strategies of CCP in party creation was of ideological and institutional scope. Moreover CCP has always taken into account communist ideology as its crucial component (Lieberthal, 2004). Deng didn’t scatter of this ideology, he tried to renovate it. He wanted to endow this ideology with Chinese spirit. Moreover, reform period has brought in such challenges of socialist ideology. These challenges prevented Deng’s government from repetition of the mistakes, such as: the vanishing echoes of the revolution (Deng took under consideration Mao policy, but tried to update it); the dishonored outcomes of Maoism (totalitarian regime and strong social constraints of the society were slightly removed by Deng); the epoch of Soviet communism (ideas of socialism Deng directed no on social oppression and total control, but on the development of planned economy) (Lieberthal, 2004). During that period the world policies scattered off ideas of Marxism and Leninism as worn out ones. Reform period has brought in such challenges of socialist ideology. These challenges prevented Deng’s government from repetition of the mistakes, such as: the vanishing echoes of the revolution. Nevertheless Deng put all his efforts in order to renovate worn-out policies of Marxism and socialism and direct their ideology on planned economy development. He paid attention to previous experiences of social countries, policy of Mao and picked out the most appropriate issues for China. Furthermore he combined these issues with Chinese cultural issues. Nevertheless in spite of Deng’s insight and successfully introduced political and economic reforms, the reaction of society was ambiguous (refer to Tiananmen Square protest). His ideology and strategies were well-structured but were hardly embodied. Society felt oppression and was outraged against open-door policy of China. Unlike socialism ideology, China was opened for contacts with foreign countries thus causing massive protests and social disturbances. Works cited 1. Gittings, J. (2005). The changing face of China: from Mao to market. NY: Oxford University Press. 2. Li, S. (2003). Transforming China: Economic Reform and Its Political Implications. China Review International 10 (2), p. 488+. 3. Lieberthal, K. (2004). Governing China: From Revolution Through Reform, second revised edition. New York: W.W. Norton. Read More