ТОПИК
China
The history of China is
embeded with revolution and tension dating back to the feudal periods and the
" first unified Chinese empire under Qi Shi Huang Di in 221 B.C.
" The Confucianism ideology
entrenched in the minds of the Chinese people with its conservative base and
the need to achieve harmony in society has yet to be reached and most likely,
never will. The proletariat is at the
heart of the Marxist-Maoist approach to politics and the basic way of life for
the Chinese masses considering that "...roughly 85% of the population is
based in peasantry..." While
Marxism, as implemented by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and Nationalism
have historically hindered the people of China; a growing need to conform to
capitilism is plainly obvious if there will ever be success in the global
market.
The Marxist theory is
based on a classless society where the proletariat or working class is given
the opportunity to exist on an equal social level with the remainder of the
people while given a form of leadership of its own for the first time. The dictatorship of the proletariat in
communist China called the " peoples democratic dictatorship " is considered by the Chinese Communist Party
to be truly democratic, since it is the dictatorship of the vast majority, the
'people' over a tiny minority of reactionaries.
The Chinese Communist Party formed in 1921 is founded upon strict
Marxist beliefs that
D.
Marcon 2.
coincide with ideas expressed in the Communist Manifesto.
"
The CCP has, as it's mission the creation
of
a stateless classless society. Because
the
dictatorship
of the proletariat must be led by
the party of the proletariat, the CCP by
virtue
of
being the vanguard of the working class, and
because
of its knowledge of Marxism-Leninism
and
its organizatioal capacities, is best able to
understand
and realize the interests of all people. "
The Communist Manifesto described the " conquest of political power
by the proletariat " as the objective of the Communist. " The fundamentals of the CCP were originally
based on extreme 'leftist' views that centered around the proletariat. The party would virtually work for the
victory of socialism in China while at the same time, looking to dismiss capitalism.
Mao Zedong, one of the
founders of the Chinese Communist Party in 1921 had views on the need to switch
from an orthodox Marxist strategy which called for the party to seek roots
among the urban working class, to a rural strategy centered on the exploited
peasants, was interrupted by the leadership CCP and its sponsors in Moscow.
The Chinese Communist
Party was by no means a military power and it was unable to sustain itself and
flourish in the Nationalist-controlled cities.
The Kuomintang, a
D.
Marcon 3.
nationalist party was set out to unify China under one central
government. The KMT had in its possession adequate means to quash the
idealistic CCP and did so on a number of
occasions. Some of which led to
rebellions such as the Long March led by Mao Tse-tung.
China, over history has
experienced phases of both Nationalism and Sinocentrism, both of which can be
damaging to a developing country attempting to compete economically in the
global market. These ideas can relate back
to the ancient religion of confucianism. " Confucianism has been
instramental in the shaping of China's leadership. Not only does it emphasize a rigid hierarchy
kept in place by virtuous behavior. But it also holds that strict adherence to
proper behavior actually leads to correct thinking. " Accompanying Nationalism and Sinocentrism
was rebellion and unrest. Twenty-four
historic dynasties followed a common pattern of development. At the beginning of a new dynasty, a period
of national unity under virtuous and benevolent rule flourished and usually was
accompanied by intellectual excitement.
A Mid-Cycle did exist where a period of mediocre rule was present,
implying corruption and unrest followed by an End-Cycle, or natural disaster
where the the ruler was unable to provide workable remedies. Rebellion or invasion would insue sending the
country spiralling. The Sinocentric and
Nationalist approach China maintained during the Industrial Revolution resulted
in the innablity to
D.
Marcon 4.
reap its benefits at an early stage.
The Sinocentric world view the government applied not only hindered the
success the Industrial Revolution had to offer, it also blinded its own views
of the growing powers in the West.
" China had once considered itself the center of the world and in
it's long history....Since the Opium War in 1840, however, China was
increasigly forced to retreat by the superiority of the Western powers. "
Sinocentrism and Nationalism are issues in Chinam that have historically had
disasterous affects on the country at the time as well as affects carrying over
into the new age of capitalism.
Capitalism is at the
root of economic success in most countries.
Organizations such as the World Trade Organizaition have accumulated
countries based, in part on thier way of life.
Communism has not traditionally coincided with economic success globally
and the trend exists in the countries that are currently members of the WTO. Presently there does not exist a communist
based country in the group of members.
The governmental
approach as to limiting goods through central leadership has become known as
a...
"...centrally
controlled command economy.
That
is the central leadership detirmined the
economic
policies to be followed and allocated
all
of the country's resources....Once the Communist
Party
leadership determined the country's political
goals
and the correct ideology to follow, the State
Planning
Commission and the State Economic
Commission
then decided how to implement these
objectives
through specific policies for agriculture and
D.
Marcon 5.
industry
and the allocation of resources. "
An approach of this kind to a country containing such vast potential and
immense population does not offer an opportunity to the proletariat class to
produce a means that would better his or her own personal lifestyle. The average worker realistically has no
reason to strive to produce a greater number of goods or to produce those goods
with any means of quality. "
Enterprises were subordinated to their higher authorities on all issues
concerning production, employment, investment and finance. Wages were set accordingly to seniority
rather than ability or effort. "
Intellectuals such as Deng Xiaopeng have realized the need to conform to
the capitilist way of life. Since Deng
Xiaopeng came into power in 1978 real per capita gross national product has
virtually tripled.
The idea of capitalism
is in direct contrast with the historical Marxist-Leninist and Mao Zedong
Thought and because of its deep roots in the Chinese way of life it has taken
until present day for the political rulers to realize its potential. Deng Xiaopeng once said " I don't care
whether the cat is black or white so as long as it catches mice. " However, the forces within the Chinese
Communist Party forced Deng to conform to their principles and retreat from his
own. Deng had to do so in order to
remain in control and maintain his
D.
Marcon 6.
position. In 1990 Deng resigned from the position which he held within
Chinese politics, the chairman of the State Military Commission.
An issue that must be
kept in mind is that while it appears that China might be attempting to adapt to the ways of the global
market it must keep in mind the risks that an rapidly expanding country once
took, the United States and the tragic Black Tuesday stock market crash of
1929.
Marxism, Nationalism
and Sinocentrism have all presently or over time worked against China
flourishing into the new world of capitalism and free enterprise. In order for China to succeed and reach the
'harmony' its Confucian ideology promises, Marxism, nationalism and
sinocentrism must all be abandoned in the attempt to reach a democratic,
capitalist lifestyle and business practice.
BIBLIOGRAPHY Hay, Morris, Lin,
and Yao. Economic Reform and State owned
Enterprises in China ,1979-87
Clarenden
Press: Oxford. 1994
Infeld, Al. China as a Model of Development
Orbis
Books: New York. 1976
Kraus, Willy. Economic Development and Social Change in the
Peoples Republic of China
Springer-Verlag:
New York, Heidelberg and Berlin. 1990
Leonhard,
Wolfgang. The Three Faces of Marxixm
Holt, Rinehart
and Winston: New York, Chicago and San Fransisco. 1974
Ogden, Dr.
Suzanne. China (Sixth ed.)
Dushkin
Publishing Group/Brown and Benchmark Publishers: Connecticut. 1995
Waller, Derek J. The Government and Politics of Communist
China
Anchor
Books: Garden City, New York. 1991
World Press Review -
Understanding China
March,
1996.
M. Zuckerman. U.S. News and World Report - China's New
Reality.
March 15,
1995.
