The Evolving Shape of Elite Politics Essay Example for Free

The Evolving Shape of Elite Politics EssayThis paper looks at four mixtures within chinaware in the past decade that has contri neverthelessed to the political changes emerging in China. First the generational changes within the top attractership of China, second the economic development and differentiation. ternion the events of Tianenmen square in 1989 and their subsequent influence. Fourth the changing domestic and international political environments that have emerged post-Cold War. These four factors have interacted and impacted each opposite in creating the current political environment.While Deng Xiaoping, the paramount Leader considered he and many of his cohorts the second generation of leadership, in reality they were still from the first generation. With the passing of Li Xiannian (Jiangs closest political supporter), Hu Qiaomu, Chen Yun, and Dengs death in 1997, the revolutionary generation no longer dominated the political scene. Jiang Zemin and his generation were technocrats who were promoted through bureaucratic service.They were apt to focus on the many problems China was facing, rather than the ideological agendas previous leaders had focused on. Without revolutionary contri aloneions these new leaders needed to legitimize their role. This was through through enforcement of norms and procedures, as soundly as a forge of policies and consensus. Because of these changes the National Peoples Congress (NPC) and special committees have been able to take a more(prenominal) sprightly role as well as force near constraints. The role of law (or the need for it) has also found greater emphasis in Chinese politics.Since Tianenmen the economy in China has more than doubled its size. The structure of the economy has drastically changed with the growth of the private economy. There has been a continual growth in foreign trade. Utilizing Chinas comparative advantage they have developed labor-intensive industries and increased their internatio nal export markets. They are also developing high-tech/information industries. The township and village enterprise (TVE) sector was privatized and grew rapidly, but is currently suffering stagnation in caper creation. State enterprises have performed poorly. With diversification of economic interests, reforms have created job loss (39 million between 1996-2000) both urban as well as rural. The government is facing more demands from various interest groups and finding a need to be more accommodating with society.The government expanded the role of intermediate associations to articulate the interests of various groups. But it is very limited according to westbound standards. There has also been an increase in the number of strikes and demonstrations, with better organization and more diverse groups participating than in the past. While the government will tame these actions, they also must take them into account in order to avoid rebellion. Counterrevolutionary labels are no long er a feasible ploy to cut back protests. Interregional and intraregional income inequalities (thought to stem in part from the abuse of political power) have assumption rise to issues of social justice. These demands are represented by millions of workers and farmers rather than (as in the past) a small group of intellectuals.In the 1980s in that respect were two political choices, conservatism and reform. Reformers tried to instigate two separations enterprises from the government, and the companionship from the government. These moves had weakened the troupes political dominance. The Tiananmen demonstrations and crackdown make leaders realize the importance of social stability. This and the break-up of the Soviet Union forced the leadership to recognize a third possibility, social, political and economic collapse. Intellectuals and reformers tempered their intrust for rapid political change.A push for a multi party system and electoral democracy declined on that point was s till a demand for social or economic democracy or equality however. The 15th Party Congress report emphasized their desired direction of separating enterprises and the government its pursuit of membership to the WTO reinforces this direction. The Party has managed to detention within bounds the conflict of social stability and enterprise reform from creating a divide and possible leadership crisis from occurring.The end of socialism in Eastern Europe had many intellectuals in China rethinking their economic and political reforms. They saw Russia face economic and political decline with social disorder, corruption and crime. This caused some in China to question neo-liberal economics, political democracy, and other Western practices. This allowed the government more freedom to reject Western models and bring in incremental reform. In the early 1990s relations with the U.S. became tenser. The U.S. was opposed to China hosting the 2000 Olympics. Many Chinese perceived the country they admired not exactly reject their government but also oppose them as a nation. The American political and economic model became less appealing to Chinese and demand for democratic reform was reduced.generational transformations of leadership, the growth and diversification of societal interests, and changes in domestic and international political context have aptitudeened the role of political norms, diminished the role of ideology, intensify institutions and begun to forge a new state-society relationship and a new sense of nationalism.While ideology has played a diminished role in Chinese society, the leaders ideology still exists, it forms and shapes his style of leadership, and distinguishes him from other leaders eras. Mao was seen as a central political leader able to instill unison Dengs role was seen as decentralizing and getting the economy going. Jiang has not been able to portray a strong vision, often a weakness of technocrats whose main strength is to fix problems. He must also contend with problems at home and abroad. When Jiang engages with the world, domestically he is seen as moving away from Chinese interests.To establish legitimacy Jiang was determined to form an ideological system. This system he believed would increase his present influence and also his future influence and power. (Only he would have the ability to purpose if policy is creation followed or not). There does not appear to be an evolution of leadership from individual leader to institutions. In 2000 Jiang introduced Three Representations these being the Party represents the broad mass of the population, advanced culture, and advanced forces of production.Jiangs push for improving the construction of Party style brings into question Marxist ideology. The plenum views Marxism as a methodology for reason the world rather than a set of conclusions. Jiang went further and declared class struggle dead, and there by opening up the door for capitalists to enter the Party. He also called for a re-evaluation of Marxist theory on labor and labor value. Fewsmiths logic follows if wages are determined by supply and demand (neoclassical view) there cannot be exploitation. If the exploitation idea is not Party doctrine, there leaves little need for a Communist Party. Jiang called for inner-Party reform to further democratic reform, it was thought by some that Party reform was needed to increase its legitimacy. (But a democratic opening any time soon shouldnt be expected).With an absence of revolutionary legitimacy, ideology has lost its persuasive influence, and Party discipline has declined, personal power and ties appears to be more important. Tang Tsou identified the central characteristic of 20th century Chinese politics as monistic, unified and indivisible. We can see examples of this in Jiangs reshaping of an ideology, marking it as his, and securing his authority through promoting his protgs. There exists a cultural framework, a personalistic system and ideological system to support the Party line.Factionalism is not tolerated so efforts to thwart that line are a threat to enter into a halting to win all. It is more than one leader replacing another, it is a re-orientation of Party policy and often occurs during a period of crisis much(prenominal) as following Tiananmen, where a redefining of the Party line was done in a way to weaken and marginalize Deng. Another example was a 10,000 character manifestos that challenged Jiang to define his line.Jiang s balance to step down as general secretary of the 16th Party Congress while alive and well is an unprecedented step in the passageway of power. His replacement Hu Jintao is not considered a Jiang loyalist. Jiangs only hope of continuing to exercise power after Hu replaces him is by consolidating his ideological vision and promoting those loyal to him that will keep him in the loop. Jiangs only hope of maintaining influence is through informal politics. Other top leaders also par ticipate in informal politics as manifested when Jiang tried to promote Zeng and was thwarted. Many believe the reason had more to do with bureaucratic and individual interest than ideological concerns. Will Jiang be able to declare power and influence after he leaves office? That question reflects the change of era and the role of formal norms, and weakening ideology-taking place in China.We have seen changes in state/society relations, the role of ideology, and an increase in norms and institutions. All these have conditioned the rules of the game in Chinese politics. Social divisions have emerged, with corruption and advantages given to special interests at the expense of laws and institutions. Globalization and the entrance of China into the WTO is another potential for disrupting politics and society in China.The authors main arguments is that with a generational change, economic development, and the environment of Tianenmen Square and the changing situation with other superpo wers like the Soviet Union and the U.S., China is changing and becoming more economically democratic and present signs of a softening toward political change as well. That being said, he points out that ideology is still an important factor in Chinese politics, and that there is a strong tendency in the Party to operate under a personalistic system. While it is a big change to have a leader step down in China while he is still alive, Jiang is trying to hold on to his power through his ideology and live on through his policies, much like previous leaders ideologies transcended their era. This paper helps us understand that change is a slow process and culture and values campaigning very deep. It brings to mind the saying The more things change, the more they stay the same.The first half of the paper covered well the four changes that have occurred and interacted to create change within the political system. His introductory was good and gave a good overall view of the political cli mate that existed previously and also the new developments and there launch on Chinese politics. The second half of the paper however did not utilize those four factors well in making his case that these factors were influential in party politics. He mainly focused on the generational aspect and the importance of personal ties in Chinese politics. He also researched Jiangs legitimacy and step taken to earn him influence after his tenure is over. While Fewsmith was able to provide a lot of information and overall history as well as emerging trends, his focus was too wide to give enough empirical evidence to support any of his ideas fully. I would like to have call for more about the economic development changes and reforms that have created inequality and civil unrest and how the Party is managing those to maintain stability. HeJiang has struggled with his legitimacy much of his time in office. He didnt have revolutionary ties, the party discipline is not as strong as in previous years, and he did not have an ideology. He has had to resort to different measures to gain his legitimacy. By creating an ideology he also hoped to gain legitimacy in his position. He knew he was leaving office but as those before him he wanted to leave his mark and influence decisions for future generations. I wonder the intent behind Jiangs bold statements. Is it possible that by declaring class struggle dead and making an opening for capitalists, Jiang hoped to garner future support from potentially powerful allies or is he really energy for reform? His call for a party reform to be more democratic, his allowing more political participation or representation than previously are other ways he tried to gain legitimacy. Were those moves inspired by a need to gain more Party consensus, were they motivated by political pressure, were they egotism motivated, was he testing the waters, or is change in the near future inevitable?The author proposes the new government is able to make ch anges and do things other than than the first generation of leaders because no one is around to enforce old party politics. The new generation is more technocrats and we have seen an increase of norms and procedures and consensus being followed yet party lines run long and deep. Is there really a generational change among Chinas leaders or are they being replaced with Protgs from the past such as Deng Xi8aopias in Hu. Even with Deng being dead, he still lives on through his protg Jiang and now Hu. Hu is not a loyalist to Jiang, with Jiang being unable to promote his followers to high positions or to replace him it would appear as if Jiangs power is weak or is it that norms and institutions are becoming more powerful than the old personalistic system?The author mentioned Tianenmen demonstrations and the collapse of the Soviet Union being important factors in creating change in elite politics. Previously the only options available seemed conservative or reform but after these events, social, political and economic collapse seemed another option. For this reason stability is very important in Chinese politics. They will avoid any rapid political change to avoid chaos. There is a strong need to reform, especially government enterprises. With such a large percentage of people being out of work because of these reforms, and more potential changes on the way with membership to the WTO, how is the government going to be able to keep such tight control and maintain stability?