Political Science

Government

Political institutions through which a land and it’s people are governed

Democracy

• Democracy is rule for the people and by the people.

• Origins are traced back to ancient Greece

• Direct Democracy:

  • Individuals represent themselves and their interests in open forums such as markets or social gatherings

• Indirect Democracy

  • When people vote for an individual(s) to represent their interests. Example: U.S and Japan

Authoritarian regime/dictatorship

• Where power is concentrated in the hands of a single individual or small group of powerful individuals.

• Examples are China and the Middle East

Identify and briefly discuss the significance of the three worlds of development by providing necessary examples.

• First World/Developed world

  • Refers to advanced industrialized countries, who have undergone political, economic, and social development. They have a democracy and more political legal rights for their citizens. The first world consists of a small number of countries which include the U.S, Canada, Western Europe, Australia, and Japan

• Second World/Developing countries

  • Countries that are not as advanced as the First World. Many Communists countries fall into this category. Examples: China and Russia

• Third World/Developing Countries:

  • Countries that are located in Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East. They are still in the process of developing politically, economically, and socially. Many of them are dictatorships, with poor human rights records

Discuss the differences between First World/Developed Countries and Third World/Developing Nations in terms of the six areas established by the Charter of the United Nations.

• Standards established by the United Nations

1. Having a democracy or democratic rule

2. respect for human rights

3. meeting people’s basic human needs and improving their quality of life

4. having a stable economic system

5. equal opportunity for citizens

6. concern for the environment

Qing Dynasty

• Last ruling dynasty of China. Also known as the Manchu dynasty (1677-1911)

• Tried to carry out western inspired reforms in education and military but unsuccessful

Confucianism

• Ancient philosophy and religion founded in China by Confucius

• Emphasized morality and respect at different levels of society among people

• Ancestor worship

• The the book Analects contained the teachings of Confucius after his death

Buddhism

• Originated in ancient India but spread and became popular in East and Southeast Asia

Boxer Rebellion

• The boxers were a traditional group of Chinese martial artists who opposed any reforms in China

• In 1900, the Boxers began to attack Europeans and members of the Qing government in China. They also set places on fire and caused chaos in China

• The Boxers were crushed by an expeditionary force put together by Europe, U.S, Japan, and Russia

Opium War

• The Opium War (1839-1842) was a war fought between China and England.

• England was involved in the sale of opium to China which had led to millions of Chinese getting addicted.

• China reacted by dumping Opium into the sea.

• England sent its warships to China

• China loses the Opium War and is forced to sign the Treaty of Nanking (1842) which gave Hong Kong to England

Kuomintang (KMT)

• In 1912, the KMT was founded by Sun and all his supporters.

• It would become the most popular party in China

• General Yuan Shikai became the president and served until his death in 1916

• In 1925, Sun died and Chiang Kai-Shek became the leader of the KMT

• Shek defeats the warlord in China and unifies the country

Chaing Kai-Shek

• Leader of the KMT

• Modernized China

• transportation, industries, education, and the military

• Economy got worse, didn’t put much effort into improving economic conditions and social welfare. Instead, a lot of money was going into fighting communists.

• He neglected different groups including the intellectuals

Northern Expedition

• Chiang Kai-Shek’s military operation to defeat the warlords

Discuss China under Nationalist/KMT rule from 1927-1949. What were some positive and negative aspects of its rule? Explain

• Chiang Kai-Shek attacked the communists constantly

• Economy was in a bad shape

• Shek’s northern expedition

• Shanghai Massacre, Shek’s army killed many communists

• unified China

• modernized China

• War with Japan, allies with communists

• Manchuria is taken over by the Japanese

Mao Zedong

• A librarian who would become a member of the CCP

• By the 1930’s, he would emerge as the leader of the CCP

CCP

• Chinese Communist Party

• founded with the help of the Comintern and intellectuals

• The Long March

• Civil war between CCP and KMT

The Long March

• Communists march 6,000 miles to escape the KMT

• Thousands of communists died due to starvation and disease

Cultural Revolution

• Mao’s supporters the Red Guards carried it out

• They broke into people’s homes and destroyed property, injured, and killed anyone who opposed them

• They attacked libraries and burned any books that had to do with China’s past history and western culture history

• Lasted from 1966-1976

• considered to be one of the darkest chapters in Chinese history

• Mao glorified it and celebrated it

• destroyed museums and works of art that were associated with China’s past

Great Leap Forward

• An attempt to increase industrial and agricultural production

• Forced workers to participate

• Unsuccessful

• Thousands died due to starvation and forced labor

One Child Policy

• Deng Xiaoping passed the One Child Policy

• strictly enforced

• wasn’t enforced in rural areas as much

Discuss the founding of the PRC in 1949. What were some important political, economic and social measures undertaken by Mao and the Communists?

• Mao Zedong establishes the PRC, a communist state

• Forced industrialization: emphasis on heavy industries like steel and coal

• Collectivization of Agriculture: cooperatives and communes were set aside by the government which peasants and farmers worked

• 5 Year Plans (1953-1957)

• Soviet Model of economic development

• The Red Army/People’s liberation Army (PLA)

• Wanted to purge Chinese society of any remnants of the past

• Religion is forbidden.

• People had to participate in the Socialist Education Campaign (1962-1965)

• Little Red Book

Discuss the structure of the CCP as well as the Chinese Political System.

1. Poliburo: Key decision makers. 20-25 members

2. Central Committee: Elect and choose members of the Politburo. Responsible for the parties activities. 300 members

3. National Party Congress: approves parties policies and programs recommended by the Central Committee. 2,217 members

4. Primary Cell Units which represent the CCP in factories, shops, colleges, and farms in China

May Fourth Movement

May 4th 1919, Chinese people took to the streets to protest against the warlords, they were asking for democracy. They also protested against European actions taken towards China and how Europeans had exploited China with their trade deals over the years

Tiananman Square Massacre

• Chinese people began protesting asking for democracy and solving inflation and unemployment

• Massive crowds gathered in Tiananmen Square to protest

• The Communists ordered martial law.

• The military shot and killed nearly 2,000 people.

• The Tank Man became a key symbol of the movement

Shanghai Communique

• China and the U.S would try to improve diplomatic and trade relations

• The U.S also agreed that Taiwan is apart of China

• Taiwan felt betrayed and lost its seat in the United Nations

Umbrella Movement

• Began in Hong Kong in 2014

• Protest movement against the Chinese Government and Chinese control over Hong Kong

• Continues till this day

• Umbrella is a symbol of peace and protection, opposed to the police use of force and pepper spray.

• The people carry umbrellas to protect themselves

• Consists of sit-in street protests, hunger strikes, occupation of buildings, including the Hong Kong airport in 2019

• The people of Hong Kong want to be free from China

Discuss the factors that led to China’s political and economic development from 1949 to 1976

• Civil War between the KMT and CCP broke out, communist win

• The PRC is established

• Chiang Kai-Shek focuses on killing communists

• Economy was getting worse

Identify and briefly discuss the key tenets of Deng’s Four Modernization Program.

1. Agriculture: Shift from communes to the Household Responsibility system. Farmers are given more freedom to grow the crops they choose and determine their prices

2. Industries: A switch from heavy industries to light industries with an emphasis on textile production

3. Sciences: Emphasis on advancing sciences, especially medicine, biological, chemical, engineering, and physics

4. Defense: Creating a military that could defend China and be deployed overseas

Discuss Taiwan under Japanese rule. What political developments took place in Taiwan when the Second World War ended? Explain.

• Japanese Rule:

  • China loses Taiwan in the Sino-Japanese war and the treaty of Shimoneski

  • Japan used Taiwan as a food and military base

  • Japan built roads, communication systems, railroads, and modern banking facilities

  • Taiwan was returned to China after WW2

• Chinese Rule

  • Taiwanese people didn’t want to be under Chinese rule, wanted to be free and independent

  • 1947, Taiwanese people rebelled against China. Chiang Kai-Shek sent forces to Taiwan and defeated the rebellion

  • Shek orders martial law in Taiwan which lasted for 40 years till 1987

  • Chiang flees to Taiwan in 1949 after Mao Zedong comes to power

Samurai

• Professional Warriors who supported the Shogun and also helped defeat any oppsition

Daimyo

• Feudal lords who supported the shogun and defeated any opposition

shogunate

• The shogunate was a military system in Japan

• The emperor was a figurehead

• The Tokugawa Shogunate was the last ruling shogunate in Japan before the emperors powers were restored again

• The shogun was helped by 2 groups the samurai and the daimyo to destroy any opposition or opponents

• society was organized like this

  • Emperor

  • Shogun

  • daimyo

  • Samurai

  • farmers

  • artisans

  • peasants

Zaibatsu

• These were powerful business companies that controlled 80% of the Japanese market prior to WW2

• Examples:

  • Mitsubishi and Sumitomo

Diet

• Uppper House: House of Councillors

  • Prior to WW2 Members were chosen by the emperor

  • After WW2 the people vote the members in.

  • Serve 6 year terms

• Lower House: House of Representatives

  • People vote the members in.

  • 4 year terms

  • The members choose the Japanese prime minister

Shintoism

• Originated in ancient Japan

• Worship of nature, especially the sun goddess

• hundreds of temples around the country

Discuss the transformation of Japan during the Meiji Restoration

• Western inspired reforms

• Edo was renamed to Tokyo

• New army is created, samurai and Daimyo were absorbed into it

• new constitution was written

• Yen became the new currency

• English and European languages were taught at Japanese schools and colleges

• New ministries were created including, finance, army, and navy

• A Parliament, called the Diet, was founded with 2 houses

• Only Japanese men over 21 could vote

Discuss Japan under the allied occupation. What were some of the reforms introduced by the Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers? Explain

• General Douglas MacArthur led the SCAP (Supreme Commander of the Allied Powers)

• Zaibatus were dismantled

• Japanese Emperor Hirohito was reduced to a figurehead

• U.S gave Japan a new constitution

• Japan wasn’t allowed to have a military, only a small force to defend itself from communist attack

• Women were given the right to vote

• Peasants were able to buy land with government loans