People's Republic of China [VOCAB]

Beijing Consensus

Neomercantilist model of state-led capitalist development adopted by China and proposed as an alternative to the Western neoliberal model known as the Washington Consensus.

Chinese Communist Party (CCP)

Authoritarian party that ruled China from 1949 to the present.

Chinese Dream

Paramount leader Xi Jinping’s policy vision calling for China's national rejuvenation, modernization, and prosperity.

Confucianism

Philosophy attributed to Chinese sage Confucius (551–479 BCE), emphasizing social harmony.

Cultural Revolution

Mao’s radical movement launched in 1966 to regain political control from rivals, resulting in a decade of social and political ideas.

Danwei (work unit) system

Maoist program providing all Chinese citizens lifetime affiliation with a work unit governing all aspects of their lives.

Deng Xiaoping

Paramount leader (1978–97) who launched China’s policy of economic reform and opening.

Falun Gong

Meditative martial arts movements founded in 1992 and banned by the Chinese government in 1999 as an “evil cult.”

Hukou system

Maoist program that tied all Chinese to a particular geographic location.

Hundred Flowers Campaign

Program (1956–57) in which Mao encouraged intellectuals to offer criticism of national policy, followed by a crackdown on critics.

Iron Rice Bowl

Term for Mao’s promise of cradle-to-grave health care, work, and retirement security, which has largely disappeared under reform and opening.

Jiang Zemin

Deng’s successor in the 1990s as China’s paramount leader.

Kuomintang (KMT)

China’s Nationalist Party founded by Sun Yat-sen and led by Chiang Kai-shek, who was overthrown by Mao’s communists in 1949 and forced to flee to Taiwan.

Li Keqiang

China’s premier and head of government (2013–present).

Long March

The CCP’s 6,000-mile heroic retreat (1934–35) to northwestern China during the country’s civil war with the Chinese Nationalist Party (the KMT).

Mao Zedong

Leader of the Chinese communist revolution, who dominated Chinese politics from the founding of the PRC until his death in 1976.

May Fourth movement

Student-led anti-imperialist cultural and political movements grew out of student demonstrations in Beijing on May 4, 1919.

National Party Congress (NPC)

Chinese Communist Party’s cumbersome representative body; more akin to national political party convention.

One country, two systems

Term for China’s guarantee to Hong Kong of 50 years of domestic autonomy as a “special administrative region” after the British colony was returned to China in 1997.

People’s Liberation Army (PLA)

China’s military.

Populism

A political view that does not have a consistent ideological foundation, but that emphasizes hostility towards sites and established state and economic institutions and favors greater power in the hands of the public.

Red capitalists

Private entrepreneurs who are also members of the CCP and whose interests generally align with those of the party-state.

Red Guard

Radicalized youth who served as Mao’s shock troops during the Cultural Revolution.

Reds versus experts

Term describing Mao’s policy favoring politically indoctrinated party cadres (Reds) over those people who had economic training (experts).

Special economic zones

Enclaves established since 1979 by the Chinese government that have offered tax breaks and other incentives to lure foreign investment.

Sun Yat-sen

Founder of China’s Nationalist Party (Kuomintang) and considered the father of modern China.

Three Represents

Jiang Zemin’s 2001 policy co-opting private entrepreneurs into the CCP.

Tiananmen Square

Historic plaza in Beijing where the Chinese party-state crushed the 1989 pro-reform demonstration.

Xi Jinping

China’s paramount leader, serving simultaneously as head of the party (CCP general secretary), head of state (PRC president) and head of military (CMC chairman).