Teaching Comparative Government and Politics

Wednesday, March 04, 2015

Government Theme in China

Students of U.S. history are familiar with themes of governments like the "New Deal," the "New Frontier," and "Make America Great Again."

Students of Chinese history should become familiar with themes like the "Great Leap Forward," "Three Represents," and now the "Four Comprehensives."

China starts massive promotion of Xi Jinping’s political theory the ‘four comprehensives’

President Xi

China's state-run media gave wall-to-wall coverage today to President Xi Jinping’s newly declared “four comprehensives” political theory as he consolidates power and advances his own brand of Communist thought…

The People's Daily said the president had referred to his political theory the ‘four comprehensives” on several occasions over the past few months.

The newspaper said the slogan refers to four orders made by Xi since he took power two years ago, namely, to comprehensively build a moderately prosperous society, to deepen reform, to govern the country strictly according to the law and to enforce strict discipline with the governing Communist Party…

Xi’s governing philosophy follows a long tradition among Communist Party leaders in formulating their ideas into a political theory to guide the country’s development.

Mao Zedong railed against “the four olds” in the 1960s, old customs, culture, habits and ideas, in his quest to remake society, and the trend has continued ever since.

Former president Jiang Zemin promoted his concept of the “three represents” with a call for more open membership of the party, while Hu Jintao spoke of the ‘scientific outlook on development”…

The People’s Daily said the "four comprehensives" would lead the way for national renewal, but political analysts have suggested that previous political theories expounded by Communist Party leaders are often just catchphrases with little precise definition or impact on policy.

Xi's "Four Comprehensives" a strategic blueprint for China

The "Four Comprehensives" are tasks raised at Communist Party of China (CPC) meetings over the last two years, since President Xi Jinping took office.

The concept was first mentioned by Xi in December, "…comprehensively build a moderately prosperous society, comprehensively deepen reform, comprehensively implement the rule of law, and comprehensively strengthen Party discipline."…

"A moderately prosperous society" is not only the primary objective identified at the 18th Party Congress, but also "a crucial step towards the Chinese dream of great rejuvenation."…

"Deepening reform" identifies the route to prosperity and social progress…

"The rule of law" came to prominence at the fourth session of the 18th CPC Central Committee, and guarantees modernization of the system of government while championing social justice.

The leadership has taken great pains to address corruption, which they believe may threaten the very survival of the Party and the state: "Strengthening Party discipline" is a must for the CPC to survive.

The "Four Comprehensives" will ensure China continues steadily on its path of development.

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