Teaching Comparative Government and Politics

Monday, February 17, 2014

Mass Line campaign

"Mass line" is part of the revolutionary vocabulary in China. Since the new president has made it a priority, it might be helpful to understand it. (Of course, you might want to check sources besides the official Chinese news agency for other perspectives.)

Liu Yunshan stresses "mass line" campaign at grassroots

Senior Chinese leader Liu Yunshan on Sunday stressed that the "mass line" campaign should reach the country's grassroots Communist Party of China (CPC) and governmental units.

Liu Yunshan

Liu, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, made the remarks at a meeting of the leading group of the campaign.

The "mass line" initiative was launched in June 2013 by China's leaders to boost ties between CPC officials, members and the people, while cleaning up four undesirable work styles -- formalism, bureaucracy, hedonism and extravagance…

He told local Party organizations to take vigorous efforts to implement the requirements in the campaign to ensure the "mass line" education and practices reach grassroots units…

"Mass line" campaign shows CPC's determination

The "mass line," a guideline introduced by the revolutionary forerunners of the CPC, champions close Party-people relations that helped the Party come to the national power.

The CPC followed the line and grew stronger by aligning with the public during the the Agrarian Revolutionary War (1927-1937), the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression (1937-1945) and the War of Liberation (1945-1949)…

CPC officials at or above county level are required to reflect on their own practices and correct any misbehavior.

Xi Jinping, General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee, said in June that the campaign will be a "thorough cleanup" of undesirable work styles such as formalism, bureaucratism, hedonism and extravagance among officials…

Upon starting the campaign, the CPC leadership has realized that making officials stay close to the people and refine their work style is as important as "locking their power in a cage."…

It is the temptation of power abuse and huge bribes that the current CPC officials must fight against this time rather than enemy soldiers their revolutionary forerunners had to eliminate decades ago.

After six decades in power, the CPC has elevated China to its place as the world's second-largest economy. The country's growing prosperity has provided Party officials with opportunities to corruption…

The "mass line," which is considered by the CPC as its "lifeline" and a "fundamental route of work," will never be old-fashioned and remain as a traditional advantage, only if it is implemented well.