China (AP Comparative Government)

Maoism

Maoism

Mao Zedong was influenced by Karl Marx and Lenin, but his version of communism is distinctly suited to China
-He believed in the strength of the peasant, and centered his philosophy around these values:
-Collectivism
-Struggle and Activism
-Don't let people get comfortable, leads to corruption
-Mass Line
-1949 Communist victory
-Mao Formally inaugurated the People's Republic of China
Until he died in 1976, he was the chief architect and agitator for a project to lead an agrarian people to modernization, prosperity, and a communist utopia
-After his death, his successors rejected most of the revolutionary project, declaring it a failure
-Launched a new era of reform

China

-Oldest continuous civilization in the World; Stretches back 5,000 years
-Emperors built dynasties that cycled back and forth (fall and rise, rise and fall)
-The last emperor (Sun Yat-Sen) was deposed of in 1911
-The Soviet Union helped the Nationalists (KMT) and the CCP to take over China by 1927

Long March

1934-1935, Mao Zedong solidified his command over the CCP and the Red Army by leading them on a perilous journey to the far northern province of Yan'an.
-6000-mile trek by the Red Army
-Renamed the army to People's Liberation Army (PLA)
-Communists under Mao take control of China post-WWII

Deng Xiaoping

The Second Paramount leader of the People's Republic of China who instituted a series of reforms, including the creation of a Constitution and a plan to gradually liberalize the economy.
-China's GDP will grow at an astounding rate (over 10%) between 1978-2014
-China currently has the second-largest economy in the world
-Continues to expand politically, economically, and militarily under leadership of current leader, Xi Jinping

Cult of Personality

A result of Mao's Charismatic Legitimacy in China
People gave him unparalleled support; Religious-like Zeal and reverence for his words

Rational-Legal Legitimacy

Type of legitimacy used by China as a result of it adopting a party constitution and a state constitution.
-Current State Constitution adopted in 1982; Establishes a unitary socialist state under the people's democratic dictatorship

Chinese Regime

One party, communist, and an authoritarian state
Established in 1949

Xi Jinping (and his Government)

Serves as president but more importantly, is the General Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party
-Current Chinese administration

China's Nations

The ethnic population is primarily Han Chinese (92%)
-Minority ethnic groups = 8% of the population (about 100 million citizens)
-55 officially recognized minority groups
-Move Live on/near the borders of other countries
-Most live in autonomous regions
-Government policy is to encourage economic development and suppress dissent

Characteristics of China's Authoritarianism

-No freely elected national leaders
-Political opposition is suppressed
-All religious activity is controlled by the CCP
-Dissent is not permitted; Civil rights are curtailed
-State-controlled media, and the economy is tightly regulated by the CCP

Political Parties

You must be a member of the CCP to have any significant power or authority in government in China
-8 minor ones exist, but only CCP really matters

Popular Support

If the economy is doing well, citizens support the CCP and its power and authority
-Source of power and authority for the CCP
-Chinese citizens generally believe the CCP has the right to use powers and confer authority on the regime
-A large percentage of the people trust the government

People's Liberation Army (PLA)

Communist Party's control over the military; Used as a source of power and authority to maintain regime stability
-Power Flows from the Barrel of a gun
-Has about 2.3 million active personal and 12 million reserves
-China's military budget has been growing at double-digit rates in the 21st century
-Military is represented in the government by the Central Military Commission, led by many prominent party leaders

Central Military Commission

Represents the military in China's government; head plays an important role in policymaking
-Is in direct control of the military in China
-Under Xi Jingping, who is its chairman
-CCP's Military = China's Military

Unitary State

China's state type; Power is concentrated at the national level, in Beijing, and in one party (CCP)
-Ultimate power is encompassed in the Central Committee, Politburo, the Standing Committee of the Politburo, and the General Secretary of the CCP
-Usually results in more uniform policies and more efficient policymaking processes than in federal systems
-China is divided into subnational units: autonomous regions, prefectures, counties, and banners (administrative divisions)
-People's congresses within each sub-government are allowed some authority over laws/policies affecting their local communities
-Direct competitive elections for leaders of townships and villages are held; That's it
-China is highly centralized

People's Armed Police Force (PAPF)

Coercive force charged with maintaining social stability and national security
-600,000 members; Is the World's largest security force
-Trained to deal with riot control to disaster relief missions
-2009 law passed preventing local authorities from having the power to summon armed police
-PAPF was greatly criticized due to the use of excessive force

Leadership & Elite Recruitment

-CCP has 88 million members
-Children are indoctrinated early on
-Academically talented students in college are invited to join the party; Some are nominated to join
-Party membership is extremely selective
-One in the party, political power begins at the regional level; Must climb nomenklatura ladder (guanxi helps)

Communist Youth League

-Young Pioneers is a similar group
-Young Chinese are socialized with the ideological rhetoric of the CCP
-Recently criticized by President Xi for not connecting with the youth enough; Method for strengthening the CCP's legitimacy

Elections

-Constitution relies on democratic centralism
-Citizens have the right to vote for members of the local people's congresses
-National leaders are elected indirectly
-Members of local congresses selected the city and provincial level congress members; These people then select members of the NPC
-CCP makes the ballots; Impossible for individual representatives to get on them; Only the CCP is allowed to run the government
-Only village chiefs are directly elected; Over 600,000 villages in China
-Local elections used by the CCP to help foster legitimacy

One-Party System

-CCP claims to be a multi-party state. In reality, it's the opposite.
-No extensive electoral system exists in China
-8 minor parties allowed to exist and hold seats in the NPC, but their power is negligible
-Largest minor party = China Democratic League; Smallest = Taiwan Democratic Self-Government League
-Efforts to make an opposition party always fails

Nationalism

The CCP promotes Chinese nationalism; people are proud of the past history and the present rising superpower

Corruption

-A major threat to CCP legitimacy besides democracy
-The government's legitimacy is based very highly on the economic performance of the nation
-Party leadership demands that local officials achieve economic growth while maintaining social stability; Local leaders are allowed to pursue their interests as long as they meet economic goals; Damages legitimacy
-Party leadership wishes to destroy this blemish from the political system
-Anti-___________ efforts taken by Xi Jinping; Has made him popular with the people

Constitution

Adopted in 1982 as part of Deng Xiaoping's modernization method. Establishes the CCP as the ruling Party. Source of power and authority
-Private firms allowed (though State-Owned-Enterprises can still continue)
-The land is still collectively owned, but can be used for their own private uses
-Establishes the National People's Congress as the highest organ of state power
-Gives citizens the right to freedom, of speech, press, assembly, association, procession, and demonstration, but these rights are not supported or given by the Authoritarian regime
-Modern-day amendments give a new emphasis on individual rights (at least in principle)

Levels of Government

-China is a unitary government
-Formal power is vested in the National People's Congress
-Reality = China is a one-party state that oversees all government offices
-Governance occurs at the national, provincial, city, town, and village levels
-A party committee exists alongside the government to help develop and implement policymaking decisions
-5 autonomous regions in China
-Two special administrative regions (SARs: Hong Kong and Macau)

5 Autonomous Regions

Regions in China with a high population of minority groups that are granted specific rights to retain their languages, religions, and traditional culture.
-XinJiany (Uighur), Tibet (Tibetan), Inner Mongolia (Mongol), Ningxia (Hui), and Guangxi (Zhuang)
-Constitutional right to autonomy has not be held up in practice

Special Administrative Regions (SARs)

Two special regions in China (Hong Kong and Macau) were formally colonies and returned to China. They had well-developed market economies and legal systems
-"One Country, two systems" policy was used to incorporate these regions into China; Both regions are separate members of the WTO
-Hong Kong has become increasingly more restricted un President Xi

Presidential Government

A system in which a president and legislature are chosen in separate elections
-China is not one of these despite having a president

Governmental Effectiveness

The CCP has responded to problems, such as environmental issues and rooting out corruption

Economic Growth

China's GDP has grown from $1 trillion to over $14 trillion in the past 20 years

Ideology

China's success is seen in terms of Communist mentality (ideology)

Deng Xiaoping's Modernization

In 1978, the new leader of China was Xiaoping
-He altered China's direction which would help the government maintain legitimacy through his idea of "Four Modernizations"
-Peasants are now allowed to farm on their own and to leave the collective farms
-Local governments are now permitted to establish industrial companies that functioned like capitalist firms

Industry
Agriculture
Science
Military

Four modernizations
- 4 areas of China vital to its growth

Open Door

Trade policy that opened China to the rest of the world's markets
Includes:
+Special Economic Zones
-Focus on growing the industry
+Reforms in Education
-Expansions of higher education and research
+Institutionalization of the Revolution
-Legitimize the party; allow for village elections, allow for some capitalism = makes citizens content and happy with the CCP

Economic growth and a Rising standard of living

The political legitimacy of the CCP rests on: _________________________________
If people are happy making money, they will not challenge the one-party rule

Political Stability

Political corruption in China (and within the CCP) has been facilitated by "Guanxi"
+Factions are supported by loyalty pyramids made up of Patron-Client relationships (Guanxi)
-Loyalty pyramids are informal; There is no set way to rise to the top
-Factional lines are usually unclear
-Shift with alliance, family connections, conflicts, rivalries, and changing loyalties
-Xi Jinping has implemented changes that have improved the criteria for selecting and appointing bureaucratic officials
-Process of building the party in the new era to combat corruption and provide stability for the CCP

Guanxi

A patron-client system; A Political relationship that involves the favors granted by the patron for political support by the client
Forms the basic guidelines of how Chinese people behave
+Getting power in the CCP
-Must create strong factions through __________
-Factions Rise and Fall in the CCP
ex). Li Qiang (Premier, HOG) vs. Xi Jinping(General Secretary - Head of Party)
Note: Political parties and factions are not the same thing.

Zhao Ziyang

Leader of China; General Secretary from 1987-89
- Purged during the Cultural Revolution as a "stinking remnant of the landlord class"
- Placed under House arrest for 16 years until his death
-Factions in the party cause friction; Part of why Zhao got purged

Elitist and Populists

Factions in the CCP today

Elitists

Faction of the Princelings
-Led by Xi Jinping (Gen Secretary and President)
-Sons of revolutionary-era leaders with Mao
-Business and Middle Class
-East Coast

Populists

Faction of the "commoners"
-Led by Li Qiang (Premier)
-Communist Youth League Background
-urban-rural poor
-Beijing Inland provinces

Township and Village Enterprises (TVEs)

Factories and businesses scattered throughout China; Vary greatly in size and are generally owned and run by the local government and private entrepreneurs.
-They operate outside the state plan and make all economic decisions
-TVE boom in the 80s-90s caused them to be responsible for 30% of economic output

Decentralized Economic Decision Making

Local official who run TVES act in the best interest of their own selves
-Farms pay more attention to cash groups than what China Needs

Rural Protests

Demonstrations occur due to
-Over high taxes
-Corruption and land grabs
-Lack of central government spending
-Communal farms used to provide a social safety net for people; Not true anymore
-Anger against the "haves"
-Lack of opportunity to move from rural to urban areas, or through social classes.

Party

Components of China's _______
-Party Congress (NPC)
-Meets every 5 years for a week
-2100 members
-Provincial CCP
-Local CCP

Government

Components of China's ___________
1.National Peoples' Congress
-Meets yearly for 2 weeks
-3,000+ members
-73% is the CCP
-5 years
-Selects the President
2.Provincial Government
3.Local Government

President

-Head of state
-Selected by the NPC (one candidate selected by the CCP)
-No term limit
-Traditionally the General Secretary
-Nominates the Premier
-Usually chosen alongside the chairman of the Central Military Commission, but the general secretary of the NPC has acted as both since the 1990s
-Xi Jinping's true power comes from his party position as general secretary and head of the military (CMC)
-Executive power is consolidated

Premier

-Essentially China's Prime minister
-Head of government
-Member of the Standing Committee
-State Council = Cabinet
-Authority over Bureaucracy (40m cadres)
-2 term limits

Powers of President

-Has the power to select the Premier and other high-ranking officials, but such decisions are usually made by the Politburo
-Implements laws and propose programs of legislation
-Confers medals
-Gives pardons
-Proclaims war and states of emergency
-Receives ambassadors and signs treaties (chief diplomat)

Power Pyramid

1.General Secretary
2.Standing Committee of the Politburo (meets once a week, responsible for specific areas of Government)
3.The Politburo
4.The Central Committee
5.CCP members

National Party Congress

A body within the CCP that acts as a legislature, passing policies put forth by the party elite
-Delegates are chosen primarily from party congresses at lower levels; Elected by provincial and local party congresses
-There is not much policymaking, as they only meet once every 5 years
-Rubberstamping of party goals
-Main Power = elect Central Committee
-Candidates are selected by high-level officials in the CCP to ensure that their desired policies get passes
-Bargaining and compromise are used by factions to maintain unity and order

Central Committee

-Meets annually for about a week
-340 members
-Carry on business of National Party Congress; Limited in overall policymaking because of size and infrequent meeting
-Meetings called "plenums"
-Political elites are here and the Politburo and Standing Committee are picked from these elites

Standing Committee

-A group of 150 delegates was selected as a more continuous body to perform legislative functions.
-Is called upon to interpret the Constitution during legal disputes
-Part of China's Legislature
-Where stuff gets done-Chosen by the Central Committee
-24 total members
-7 of those members are part of the Standing Committee; The decisions of this committee are done in secret and they dictate government policies

Party Authority

Government is subject to ________ ________________
-The top Dictates Government policy
-The Government is all of one party and it's meetings serve as announcements of policymaking decisions by "The Top!"

None

Current Presidential term limits
-Changed by Xi
-Originally 10 years

No

Does the Legislature have the power to remove the General Secretary?
-The president is not limited by much
-Removal is only done behind closed doors, with a patron-client relationship and the building of factions within the CCP
-Build a strong faction and loyalty pyramid, and you will become president

Legislature

-China's party-controlled system is unicameral
-Consists of an elected National People's Congress that the constitution recognizes as the most powerful institution that elects the president, approves the premier, and legitimizes policies of the executive

National People's Congress

The Unicameral body established by the constitution as the source of all authority in the national government
-The reality is that they are not very powerful and only exist as a "rubber Stamp" body for the Standing Committee
-Meets yearly for 2 weeks
-Charged with selecting the president of the PRC, the president of the Supreme People's Court, and the Chairman of the CMC
Approves choice of premier
-Has authority to supervise the enforcement of the constitution, as well as amending it, examining the actions of the Standing Committee of the NPC, and deciding on questions of war and peace
-3,000+ members, 73% is the CCP, 5 years

Constraints on the Legislature

-The NPC does not carry out the legislative functions of the government of China
-Their powers are constrained by the top leaders of the CCP who ultimately dictate all policies to be carried out by the National People's Congress (NPC)

Judicial Systems (Through the Years in China)

+Mao Era
-Absolutely no Rule of Law
-If we want to arrest you, we will without letting you know why
-Arbitrary punishments
+Post-Mao
-Some elements of Rule of Law primarily to encourage international business
-Walmart won't operate in China if there aren't some guarantees of clear rules/laws
-Individual citizens are subjected to rule by law = Laws not always applied equally to them
+The CCP ultimately controls court procedures and decisions
-Xi can override any court decision
-99% conviction rate
-Death penalty is given out often

Rule of Law

Basis of the legal system in China
-Usually associated with Liberal democracies
-Rulers should not have absolute power over their subjects
-There has been a crackdown on CCP corruption due to the growth of the economy and international privatization
-Death penalty is still used for smuggling, rape, theft, bribery

Judicial System

-The judiciary has no power to overrule the CCP's decisions
-Judicial officials appointed by top officials of the CCP
-Xi has been demoting and removing corrupt judges
-Since Chia is authoritarian, judiciaries are not independent
-The CCP Rules the courts

NGOs

-Most active ______ in China have been based on environmental issues
-The CCP has allowed these groups to exist and responded positively to environmental NGOs' requests
-Enhance legitimacy
-Acts as a safety valve (so the population doesn't boil over with problems and protests)
-Gives an illusion of influence
-_____ are required to register with government authorities
-Must have a government agency as a sponsor (called a "mother-in-law")
-Can exist to a point, but ultimately needs to steer clear of politics that may seriously challenge the official CCP policy
-If it is anti-CCP, it will be shut down

Civil Society

Interest groups and social movements are NOT permitted to influence the political process unless they are under the party-state authority
-_____________ __________ is growing in China and many citizens participate in the CCP allowed NGOs

GONGOs

Government-organized NGOs; Set up by the government and acts as an NGO.
-Independent, free to express interests, but ultimately is controlled by the government
ex). Red Cross Society of China, Chinese Students and Scholar Association, China Foundation for Poverty Alleviation, China Federation of Trade Unions
-CCP created the China Federation of Trade Unions
-Official state organization tasked with overseeing workers, and is alone given the power to collectively bargain for wages and benefits

Political Culture

-Confucian values, such as order, harmony, and a strong sense of hierarchy
+Mandate From Heaven
-Belief in centralized authority
+Superior and Subservient positions
-Role of Government is to impose a strict moral code and foster "correct" behavior
-Strong sense of cultural identity and a relatively high degree of cultural homogeneity
+Political Socialization
-Communist League of China
-Run by the CCP for 14-28-year-olds to create the next generation of party leaders
-Schools prompt communist ideology
+Media in China
-Controlled by the CCP and is used to promote propaganda

Political Values

-Maoist Values
-Mass Line
-Collectivism
-Struggle and Activism
-Nationalism

Mass Line

Communication between party leaders, members, and peasants to achieve goals of the CCP
+Egalitarianism = Focus on the peasants
"We Are all in this together"

Political Participation

Citizens are subjects of the government, not participants in a political system
-The only true way to participate in China is by becoming a member of the CCP
-Only about 6% of the total population of China are CCP members
-New members largely recruited from the CCP's Youth League
Citizens have been allowed to politically participate in the election of local village leaders...but it is heavily monitored by the CCP
-Any participation in a movement that questions the authority of the CCP is severely punished

Media

China's State runs the ______
-Has the largest share of the market, but some independent media is heavily censored and monitored by the government
-People's Daily = Official newspaper of the Central Committee of the CCP
-CCTV = major state television
-The Internet is also widely available and very popular but is also heavily monitored
-"Red lines" = Unspoken understanding that the government/CCP is not to be criticized
Serves as a mouthpiece for the government
-Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) enacts laws to restrict the news, Internet, and Social media

China's Great Firewall

Nickname for China's restriction of the Internet
-China has the largest system of Internet censorship in the world
-The CCP has denied Chinese citizens access to Google, Facebook, YouTube, or the NY Times
-If you search for Tiananmen Square 1989, you will only find an image of the Forbidden City, not the student protest
-Winnie the Pooh was banned

Hukou System

In China, you are restricted on where you can move by your Household Register Card
-Acts sort of like an internal passport
-Rural resident are not permitted to move their families to urban areas
-Urban Hukou needed to access education and health services
-Rural migrants leave children with grandparents to travel to urban areas searching for work
-Many rural farmers are thrown off their land by Local governments who want to develop it

Environmental Policy

-Xi affirmed that China must follow a Model of Sustainable Development
-Increased production, higher living standards, and healthy ecosystems
-Beautiful China Initiative = make China a good working and living environment for the people; Global ecological security measures
-China had major issues due to rapid industrialization
-Cities shrouded in smog, and over ⅔ of rivers too toxic for agricultural use
-Social unrest has caused the Government to realize a change is needed

Social Credit System

China's Social credit system is an initiative to build a database that monitors behavior across the country in real-time using the millions of cameras around China
-A citizen's score can be lowered by things such as jaywalking
-A low social credit score could lead to loss of rights such as booking a flight, limitations to schools you can apply to, or even the loss of your job

Social Cleavages

+Social Classes
+Autonomous regions
-China is unfair to everyone
+Ethnicities
-Multi-Ethnic nation

Uighurs

Muslim-based ethnic group that resides in one of China's 5 autonomous regions
-Many advocate, demonstrate for, and resort to violence in an attempt to separate from China

Tibet

-Buddhism (ethnically, spritually different from the rest of China)
-Area conquered by China soon after PRC took control in 1949
-Dhali Llama is a political leader
-Tensions between region and rest of China

The Tibetans

Follow the Buddhist religion and live on remote, high-altitude plateaus and grasslands by the Himalayas
-Are ethnically and spiritually different than the majority of Han Chinese
-Many would like to separate from China and protest in a more peaceful way than the Uighurs

"Two Chinas"

Urban vs. Rural Cleavage
-The gap in economic growth between the urban and rural areas has created a great divide
-Not only an economic-based gap - social lifestyle differing greatly causes resentment between urban and rural classes
-The closer to the coastline, the better off you are

Challenges from Political and Social Cleavages

+Geopolitical tensions
+Threats of domestic terrorism
+Foreign criticism
+People continue to rally behind the CCP in China despite all this

Electoral Systems and Rules

-Only direct elections for the Citizenry are for local government positions
-Local governments choose leaders in higher positions
-CCP officials ultimately decide what candidates are allowed to run for Local assemblies in China
-Candidates can become blacklisted/banned

CCP System

-2nd largest political party in the world
-Only about 6.5% of China's population are CCP members
-Transition in the background of party members
-Increasingly technocratic and more capitalists
-Today less than 40% of the party members are peasants, but they still make up the largest single group in the CCP
-Women make up only about 28% of the members and only about 10% are in upper positions within the party
-CCP membership is steadily growing; Did slow down a bit
-People must apply to become a part of the party
-Dominated by male party members (women only make up less than 30%)
Path to CCP membership
1. Written Applications
2. Acceptance as a Candidate
3. One-Year Preparation period
4. Official Acceptance process
5. One-year trial Membership
6. Official Membership

The Loyal Non-Opposition

8 registered minor parties under the CCP's direction
Revolutionary Committee of the Kuomintang
-China Democratic League
-China Democratic National Construction Association
-China Association for Promoting Democracy
-Chinese Peasant and Workers' Democratic Party
-China Zhi Gong Party September 3 Society
-Taiwan Democratic Self-Government League

Hong Kong

One Country, Two Systems
-Used to be owned by the British, became an independent autonomous region, and then reverted to Chinese control in 1997
-Still enjoys a lot of autonomy

Umbrella Revolution

2014; Movement for maintaining democratic institutions, civil liberties and rights continues today with recent violent clashes between the citizens and the Chinese military

State Corporatism

-Most organizations are created and or approved by the state and have government officials as their leaders
-The CCP only allows one organization for any given profession or activity; Easier to control and monitor

Economic liberalization

-China is a member of the IMF, World Bank, and WTO
+Deng Xiaoping reforms
-The economy is capitalist with socialist characteristics
-Government sold off/ closed inefficient state-owned enterprises (SOEs)
-Government maintains a tight grip on strategic SOEs

Beijing Consensus

Neo mercantilist model of state-led capitalist development adopted by China in contrast to western neoliberal models

Trade Tensions

-Fueled by China's State Led economy
-Preferential state treatment for domestic firms makes it difficult for foreign companies to invest or do business in China
-Despite WTO reform pressures, China remains largely closed
-Accusations of intellectual property theft and unfair trade practices have contributed to trade tensions with many countries
-Includes the US-China trade wars (since 2018)
-Globalization and liberalization of China's Economy has led to an increase in demands for western style freedoms

Special Economic Zones (SEZs)

Areas set aside to encourage international investment in China in the early 1980s
-Enclaves were established in 1979 by the Chinese government
-Has offered tax breaks and other incentives to lure foreign investment; Less red tape, lower taxes, modern infrastructure
-Effectively ended China's economic isolation
-Brought in new capital and promoted further economic modernization

Shenzhen

A Special Economic Zone in China
-Originally just a small fishing village; Reformed by Deng Xiaoping transforming it into one of the most economically prosperous cities in China

Response to Global market forces

-Most natural resources are controlled by state-owned enterprises
-Profit from state-owned industries help fund the government
-Natural resources (like Oil) are important to the economy

Belt and Road Initiative

An initiative to connect more than 70 countries across Asia, Europe, and Africa in a new modern-day Silk Road
-Efforts to promote regional links and boost its power, political influence, and control over the global market
-"New Silk Road" that consists of railways, ports, and highways

Challenges From Globalization

-Economic reform in China has led to judicial reform (more rule of law - protection of property rights)
-China's emphasis on economic growth over environmental protection has led to significant problems with pollution
-China's economic reforms, anti-corruption efforts and focus on protecting the environment

Neoliberal Economic Policies

Consequences of _______ ___________ Policies in China:
-Increase in National Income
-Growing economic inequality
-Pollution
-Regional migration = West to East and rural to urban

Growth Model & Population

-Growing labor mobility, job uncertainty, and unemployment
-Inequality is growing
-Individual and regional divides
-Rural poor being left behind
-Industrial development has created resource shortages and environmental

Political Changes

-Voting rights
-Representation
-Civil Rights
-Education

Economic Changes

-Poverty
-Wealth inequality
-Unemployment
-Development

Cultural Changes

-Women's rights
-Societal norms
-Family structure
-Demographics

Iron rice Bowl

An economic policy during the Mao era
-Citizens were guaranteed a job, steady income, and benefits such as access to health care
-Cradle to Grave Socialism

Two Chinas

-The gap has grown in economic growth between the urban and rural areas and it has created a great divide
-Not only an economic-based gap; Social lifestyle differences also form resentment
-Rural residents don't have the same benefits
-2014: CCP aimed reforms at providing access to historically urban social programs