Political and Economic Landscape of Modern China

What is the official name of China?

The People's Republic of China (PRC)

How does China's population compare to that of the United States?

China's population is more than 4 times greater than that of the U.S.

What percentage of China's land is suitable for agriculture?

Less than 15%.

What is the approximate population of China?

1.3 billion.

Name three major cities in China and their populations.

Shanghai (16.575 million), Beijing (12.214 million), Chongqing (9.401 million).

How many provinces does China have?

23 provinces.

What are autonomous regions in China?

Territorial units equivalent to provinces that contain a large concentration of ethnic minorities.

Name two examples of autonomous regions in China.

Xinjiang and Tibet.

What are the two Special Administrative Regions (SAR) of China?

Hong Kong and Macau.

What is the status of Taiwan in relation to China?

China considers Taiwan a province, while Taiwan considers itself independent.

What was the Century of Humiliation in China?

A period from 1839 to 1949 marked by economic stagnation, poverty, and imperialist pressures.

Who established the Republic of China?

Sun Yat-sen.

What were the two main political forces in China during the Republic period (1911-1949)?

The Nationalist Party (KMT) and the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).

Who led the Nationalist Party (KMT)?

Sun Yat-sen, later led by Chiang Kai-Shek.

Who led the Chinese Communist Party (CCP)?

Mao Zedong.

What significant event is associated with Mao Zedong's rise to power?

The Long March.

What was the outcome of the Chinese Civil War in 1949?

The People's Liberation Army established the People's Republic of China (PRC) and the Nationalists fled to Taiwan.

When did the international community recognize the PRC?

In the 1970s.

What does Confucianism emphasize in society?

Harmony, order, peace through relationships, obedience to authority, hierarchy, and meritocracy.

What is the significance of The Analects?

It is a famous book by Confucius that outlines his teachings.

What was the role of the first Chinese civil service?

To help the Emperor run the empire based on meritocracy and Confucian ethics.

What does the quote about revolution imply about its nature?

A revolution is an act of violence by which one class overthrows another, not a refined or leisurely process.

What was the impact of World War II on the Chinese Communist Party?

The Communists were more successful against Japan, while the Nationalists were weakened.

What is Maoism?

A form of communism that emphasizes the strength of the peasant.

What are the key values of Maoism?

Collectivism, struggle and activism, egalitarianism, populism, and self-reliance.

What does collectivism in Maoism emphasize?

Loyalty to the party and state rather than to family or village.

How does Maoism view struggle and activism?

It values sacrifice for the people over maintaining harmony by accepting the status quo.

What was Mao's stance on women's equality?

He was committed to women's equality, believing that 'women hold up half of the heaven'.

What is the Mass Line in Maoism?

A method where leaders communicate their will to the people, and the people communicate their wisdom back to the leaders.

What was the Iron Rice Bowl under Mao?

A guarantee of lifetime employment, income, and basic benefits for most urban and rural workers.

What was the role of the Soviet Union in Mao's China from 1949 to 1957?

The USSR provided money and expertise to help the PRC with land reform, civil reform, and five-year plans.

What was the purpose of land reform in Mao's China?

To redistribute property from the rich to the poor and increase productivity in the countryside.

What were the main goals of the Five-Year Plans in China?

To nationalize industry, collectivize agriculture, and eliminate private property.

How did the Communist Party come to power in China?

By winning popular support through defeating Japan in WWII and then the Nationalists in a civil war.

How did the Communist Party come to power in Russia?

Through a coup d'état led by the Bolsheviks that overthrew the czar.

What are some similarities between Maoism and Marxist-Leninism?

Both emphasize democratic centralism, collectivization, and nationalized industry.

What are the key differences between Maoism and Marxist-Leninism?

Mao valued the strength of the peasant and instituted the Mass Line, while Lenin focused on the value of the workers.

What was the Hundred Flowers Campaign?

A period when intellectuals were given freedom of expression, which later led to repression of dissent.

What was the Great Leap Forward?

A utopian effort to transform China into a radical egalitarian society through mass mobilization and commune organization.

What were the consequences of the Great Leap Forward?

It resulted in a famine that caused the death of between 18 million and 45 million people.

What was the Cultural Revolution?

A campaign aimed at removing all vestiges of 'old' China and its inequalities, leading to widespread violence.

What happened to scholars during the Cultural Revolution?

They were sent to the fields to work, and universities and libraries were destroyed.

What was the role of the Red Guards during the Cultural Revolution?

They were student radicals who led the purging of 'class enemies'.

What was the emphasis on education during the Cultural Revolution?

The focus was on elementary education only, with a rejection of traditional scholarship.

Why was the Cultural Revolution considered violent?

It involved widespread purging, destruction of cultural heritage, and repression of dissent.

What happened in 1976 regarding Mao Zedong?

Mao died, leaving his followers divided into factions.

Who led the radical faction after Mao's death?

Mao's wife, part of the 'Gang of Four' who supported radical goals of the Cultural Revolution.

What was the outcome of the power struggle after Mao's death?

Moderates won and arrested the Gang of Four.

What significant quote is attributed to Deng Xiaoping?

"It doesn't matter whether a cat is black or white; if it catches mice, it is a good cat."

When did Deng Xiaoping take control of China?

In 1979.

What was Deng Xiaoping's Open Door Trade policy?

A policy to trade with all nations, including capitalist ones like the U.S., to boost China's economy.

What reforms did Deng Xiaoping implement in education?

Higher academic standards, expansion of higher education and research, reversing the Cultural Revolution.

What were the Four Modernizations introduced by Deng Xiaoping?

Agriculture, Industry, Science, and Military.

What was the New Social Contract under Deng Xiaoping?

Citizens could pursue economic prosperity in exchange for accepting the CCP's monopoly on political power.

What was the Household Responsibility System?

A system where villages owned farmland, contracted out to individual families, replacing communes.

What are Special Economic Zones (SEZs)?

Regions where foreign investors received preferential tax rates and incentives.

What are Township and Village Enterprises (TVEs)?

Market-oriented public enterprises under local government control that thrived from 1978 to 1996.

What was China's economic growth rate from 1990 to 2009?

GDP per capita grew at an average rate of a little over 9% per year.

What economic problems arose during Deng Xiaoping's reforms?

Loss of the 'iron rice bowl', unemployment, inequality, and issues with urban migration.

What is the Floating Population in China?

Approximately 150 million peasants migrating to urban areas for work, often in low-paying jobs.

What is the hukou system?

A household registration system that limits citizens' ability to move and work in urban areas.

What were the Tiananmen Square protests of 1989 about?

Large-scale demonstrations for more political freedoms, primarily among students and intellectuals.

What was the government's response to the Tiananmen Square protests?

The army was used to crack down on the protests, with a death toll that was never revealed.

Who are the technocrats in Chinese politics?

Career-minded bureaucrats who administer public policy based on technical rather than political rationale.

Who were the key leaders following Deng Xiaoping?

Jiang Zemin (1993-2003), Hu Jintao (2003-2013), and Xi Jinping (2013-present).

What type of political system does China have?

A Communist Party Authoritarian Regime (Single Party State).

What is the structure of China's legislative system?

Unicameral National People's Congress with nominal authority.

What is the role of the Supreme People's Court in China?

It serves as the chief judicial body with nominal authority.

What does the Constitution of China state?

It vests formal authority in both party and state executive and legislative offices under authoritarian rule.

What are the three parallel hierarchies in the political structure of the People's Republic of China?

The Communist Party, the State (or Government), and the People's Liberation Army (PLA).

What is the role of the Communist Party in China's political structure?

It serves as the ideological overseer and dominates the State and the PLA.

What is 'Democratic Centralism' in the context of Chinese governance?

It is the principle that society is best led by an elite vanguard party with a superior understanding of the people's needs, derived from Lenin's ideas.

What is the head of the Communist Party called?

The General Secretary.

What is the function of the National Party Congress in China?

To approve decisions made by top leaders and showcase current party policies, without serving as a check on the executive.

How often does the National Party Congress meet?

Every 5 years.

What is the Central Committee of the Communist Party?

A body of about 340 members elected for a 5-year term by the National Party Congress that carries out the business of the Congress between its sessions.

What is the Politburo in the context of the Communist Party?

The Politburo is a group of top leaders that dictates government policies and oversees the State Council, meeting in secret.

What is the significance of the Standing Committee of the Politburo?

It is the most powerful political organization in China, consisting of 7 elite members chosen from the Politburo.

What does 'Guanxi' refer to in Chinese politics?

It refers to connections or relationships that facilitate getting things done, similar to 'good old boys networks' in the West.

What are the four main factions within the Communist Party?

Conservatives, Reformers, Liberals, and Princelings.

What do Conservatives in the Communist Party advocate for?

They want to preserve the power of the party and the central government.

What is the stance of Reformers within the Communist Party?

They support major capitalist infusion in the economy and an open-door trade policy.

What is the historical significance of the Princelings faction?

It consists of leaders from families with revolutionary credentials dating back to Mao's era.

What has been the political status of Liberals in the Communist Party since 1989?

They have been out of power and are more accepting of political liberties and democratic movements.

What is the relationship between the Communist Party and the rule of law in China?

The Communist Party is above all, and while legal statutes are increasingly relied upon, the Western notion of rule of law has not prevailed.

What is the role of the Central Committee in grooming future leaders?

It acts as a grooming mechanism for future leaders through its annual plenums.

How is the membership of the Standing Committee of the Politburo determined?

Members are chosen from the Politburo under carefully controlled and secretive conditions.

What is the significance of the General Secretary's education background in recent years?

Recent General Secretaries have been educated as technocrats.

How does 'Guanxi' impact local governance in China?

It is pervasive at the local level, linking ordinary people with village leaders and lower party officials.

What is the typical meeting environment for the Politburo?

The Politburo meets in secret.

What is the role of the National People's Congress in China?

It serves as the 'formal' authority of government to rule on behalf of the people, meets once a year, and has the power to enact/amend laws, approve the state budget, and elect/recall key officials, but its powers are exercised only as allowed by the Communist Party.

What significant change occurred regarding presidential terms in China in 2016?

The constitutional change allowed for unlimited terms for the President, replacing the previous limit of two terms.

Who are the 'Princelings' in the context of Chinese politics?

Princelings are the descendants of prominent and influential senior communist officials, often involved in politics and business.

What is the composition of the Standing Committee under Xi Jinping's leadership?

5 out of 7 members are from the Shanghai Gang, along with 2 Princelings.

What does the term 'Guanxi' refer to in Chinese politics?

Guanxi refers to the network of relationships and connections that can be leveraged for business and political advantages.

What is the significance of the People's Liberation Army in Chinese history?

It is the world's largest military force, played a key role in the establishment of the People's Republic of China, and has been crucial in various historical events, including the Cultural Revolution and the Tiananmen Square protests.

What is the structure of the Chinese executive branch?

The executive branch includes the President (Head of State), the Vice President, and the Premier (Head of Government), with the President and General Secretary roles often held by the same person.

What is the role of the Premier in the Chinese government?

The Premier directs the State Council, which functions like a cabinet, and is formally appointed by the President but always comes from the Politburo Standing Committee.

What is the function of the People's Court System in China?

It operates under a 'rule by law' system, where the Communist Party uses the judiciary as a tool, resulting in a high conviction rate and limited legal rights for defendants.