As of today, political elitists in China have selected Xi Jinping to be the new paramount leader. The new leader is the fifth generation leader of Communist China. Jinping is expected to have to deal with a number of domestic issues arising in the
country. Although China sits second in the world's leading economy, trouble has been brewing recently with the economy. The people of China do expect him to take control of the situation as well as dealing with territorial claims with Japan. Jinping claims to achieve "
better social services while making sure China stands tall in the world and the party continues to rule."
Much of China is at unrest with the current state of affairs. Many people are asking for the end of corruption and to put to rest unjust jailings, beatings and killings. The Chinese have complained of the lack of specifics coming from Jinping's mouth and how he is to tackle these social and economic problems. One quote from Jinping, "Our responsibility now is to rally and lead the entire party and the people of all ethnic groups in China in taking over the historic baton and in making continued efforts to achieve the great renewal of the Chinese nation."
Being a communist leader, Jinping doesn't alert anyone in thinking he's going to bring any change any time soon. The New York Times headline even states that there are few hints of shift in path. This shouldn't come to anyone's surprise given that Jinping is just another communist leader of China. One can only wonder if or when China will relinquish its power from its top elite to the billions of citizens who live in the country. What do you think of Xi Jinping? Is he full of empty rhetoric? Can we relate him to any politicians we currently have in the US? Do the Chinese need new leadership despite their booming economy? Will he do anything to address the country's needs?
8 comments:
Having just experienced the months of endless election flurry in America, it is interesting to compare and contrast with China's election process (or lack thereof). While our candidates drive their campaigns with messages of change, Jinping, as George says, does not make any such promises. Though the change that our candidates promise is sometimes thrown out of the window once they come into office, at least we have some hope of revisions. On another note, the Internet has developed into an integral aspect when it comes to our elections. Conversely, China blocked all access to Google during the meeting of its Congress as they chose their new leaders. It is chilling to imagine a government that deprives its citizens of the jewel that is Google, especially during an election period. It is difficult to judge whether this shift in leadership is significant at all. Most likely, it is just another face heading the same operations in the same manner.
From what I have heard about Jinping, it sounds like he is just going to bring more of the same. In order for a major shift towards democracy from China, a leader needs to get into power who is willing to fight for change is needed. While this may seem hopeless due to China's current situation, I think it is inevitable that this will happen in the near future, because the collective voice of Chinese people seems to be getting to loud to cover up, with much public anger. Just as Gorbachev lead the USSR to (somewhat) more democracy, China is due for a new leader to do the same.
While I agree that Xi Jinping is just another member of the Communist Party who probably won't bring significant change, I believe it's still possible that China will change. After 10 years of rule under Hu Jintao, China may well be ready for change. In the past 10 or 20 years China has changed immensely, in part due to changes in leadership and a weakening of old Communist policies. Although sometimes it may not be entirely clear to us as capitalist Americans, I think China has changed a great deal. There is no evidence that China will not continue to grow and change, especially given a change in leadereship.
I agree with Paniz that Xi Jinping will likely follow the previous policies of the Chinese government with little deviation for increased liberties. Comparing the Chinese election process to the American one highlights the contrast between China and other progressive nations. I question how much longer this type of government will last in China. A country of more than a billion people experiencing decreased financial success and increased governmental brutality will not accept the type of leadership Xi Jinping will bring. The American and French revolutions show that a disgruntled citizenry can and will overthrow unjust leadership, and the Chinese government should be wary.
When Gorbachev refused to vigorously uphold and enforce Soviet ideals, the communist regime wasn’t able to stop the opposition against it and it quickly collapsed (1). The Chinese politburo’s choice of Jinping, a man who has made it clear that he wont offer much government change, reflects that they are not going to make this same mistake.
Unfortunately for the Chinese Communist Party, staying in power is going to be extremely difficult if it refuses to change. As David and Sam noted, rising incomes and a strong economy have empowered the people of China and made it possible for them to be more vocal than ever. With information more available now than ever, it has become impossible for the Chinese government to hide its corruption and problems from the people. As stated by Larry Diamond, a political science professor at Stanford, “the strength of the authoritarian regime in China is increasingly an illusion, and its resilience may not last much longer. As frustration with corruption, collusion, criminality, and constraints on free expression rise, so do the possibilities for a sudden crisis to turn into a political catastrophe for the Chinese Communist Party (CCP)”(2). I’m sure the Chinese government has recognized this problem as well, which might explain why they removed references to Marx and Lenin from their committee to elect a new leader and why Jinping has stated that problems like corruption will be addressed (3). The government definitely knows that there needs to be some change, but they cant offer too much as it could risk collapse that happened in the Soviet Union. While problems like corruption might be able to be solved, the Chinese government is going to have a very tough time dealing with issues like the populations growing desire for more freedom. It will be interesting to see how the government will deal with these issues.
1)http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2011/06/20/everything_you_think_you_know_about_the_collapse_of_the_soviet_union_is_wrong?page=0,2
2)http://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2012/01/why-east-asia-including-china-will-turn-democratic-within-a-generation/251824/?single_page=true
(3)http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/49515122/ns/world_news-asia_pacific/t/china-hints-reform-dropping-maos-legacy/#.UKX7YmBpvGA
Well, now that China has another Communist ruler in power, he will have plenty to deal with. Understandably, China faces many problems despite its attempts to industrialize itself into the leading world economy. However, I doubt that Xi Jinping will fare any better than the previous ruler, considering the same political elites probably elected him too.
The vast amount of corruption in China is staggering. Analysts show that the social inequality in China has not significantly decreased and that there are still hundreds if not thousands of struggling families that do not possess the wealth or luxury of China's upper class. China's inequality makes the US's inequality look tame in comparison. As Beijing progresses onward, the people may try to seek out revolution.
I feel that China will eventually have to relinquish its elitist ways as there are too many disgruntled people that may eventually rise up against the established government. Communism has been shown to be pretty ineffective in the long run, and this is the reason China is trying to shift itself into a Capitalist system to better immerse itself in the global economic competition (especially with us). As President Ronald Reagan once said: "[It is] the march of freedom and democracy which will leave Marxism-Leninism on the ash heap of history as it has left other tyrannies which stifle the freedom and muzzle the self-expression of the people."
While the future of China is still too far to tell, I believe that Xi Jinping is not too different from his predecessor. As much as we would hope he will combat issues such as China's currency manipulation or work to better the lives of the impoverished in the country, the past history of China's leaders does not seem to indicate as such. I will not say that he is full of "empty rhetoric," but I doubt he will bring anything new to the table. China will still strive to surpass the US as our economy still struggles to revive itself.
I do not think we can relate any of our politicians to him, though the Communist Party does exist in our country. However, I know of no major politicians who support China's Communist policies. As wealthy as China is becoming, it is still dirt poor in regards to its national morality. I find it unlikely that Xi Jinping will properly address the real issues that his country needs because he was chosen by elites to be the elitist.
In conclusion, I do not believe imminent change will happen in China anytime soon under Xi Jinping's leadership, as David and Paniz have touched on. However, I do hope that China will eventually reform and abandon its Communist ways, and hopefully leave Google alone and let the people choose whether or not they want to use a website. Robert compares the collapse of the Soviet Union to a possible collapse of Communism in China. However, this catastrophe could still be decades away. China has learned from the fall of the Soviet Union and will probably not repeat their mistakes. However, I do believe it will fall eventually for it is the policy of the desperate. As John F. Kennedy once said: "Communism has never come to power in a country that was not disrupted by war or corruption, or both."
I don't think Jinping will bring any change to China. He's the one in control of a nation who's upper class thrives off of said control. If you're looking for change, it isn't going to come from the guys who profit off being on the top of the food change. However, I still agree with Garrett when he says that change is possible. Although change won't come from the upper class, if that class puts too much pressure on those below them, then the lower class can revolt and take over, much like in the Soviet Union as Robert has previously stated.
So, I guess in a way Jinping COULD cause change, but only indirectly. He'd have to make a large majority of China really mad through his policies and actions in order to motivate them to fight back and take control.
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