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

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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

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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

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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

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       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

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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.

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       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.

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       March 15, 1995.