The Communist Party of China: founding date, leaders, goals

2024 Author: Henry Conors | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-12 02:45

The largest political organization in the world ruling the country, founded in 1921 after the defeat of the Kuomintang (Chinese National People's Party) and the end of the Chinese Civil War. This is the CCP, the Chinese Communist Party. Only the CPSU, before its dissolution, could match the number of members of the CPC.

Creation

At the beginning of the twentieth century, there was an upsurge of the revolutionary movement in China, the ideas of Marxism-Leninism spread under the influence of the Comintern and the general situation in Russia. The creation of the Chinese Communist Party was provoked by the October Revolution, after which a group of Chinese intellectuals founded a new organization. For some time they had to work in illegal conditions. The founder and leader of the Chinese Communist Party from 1921 to 1927, Chen Dux even organized the first congress in Shanghai in the summer of 1921.

A huge role in the formation of the organization, which quickly turned from a small circle into a huge political force, was played by its second leader - Li Lisan andthe first organizer of the Marxist circles, Li Dazhao. At the first congress, the Communist Party of China, whose program had already been drawn up, proclaimed its goals - up to the construction of socialism in China. Since then, eighteen congresses have already passed, the last of which took place in November 2012.

Periods of party history

First with the Kuomintang, the Communist Party of China entered into an alliance against all sorts of militaristic groups - the First United Front. Then for ten years until 1937 she fought for power with the Kuomintang. But when China was subjected to Japanese aggression, the CCP was forced to make peace with political opponents in order to open a joint Second United Front against the Japanese. This war lasted until the complete victory over fascism (September 1945).

In 1946, the struggle against the Kuomintang began again and until 1949 acquired the dimensions of a civil war. The Chinese Communist Party defeated the Kuomintang and as a result of this victory came to power in the country. The People's Republic of China was founded. Then Mao Zedong started the Cultural Revolution. The time has come for all the central organs of the party to reorganize or disappear. Until 1956, times in China were troubled. After Mao's death, Deng Xiaoping gradually restored almost all the organs of the party, and thus the state organs returned to the control of the party.

Controls

The Charter of the CCP provides for the highest governing body of the party, which is the National Congress of the Communist Party of China, convened once everyfive years. In addition, there are other governing bodies. This is the Central Committee, in which the Politburo of the CPC Central Committee of twenty-five people works (among them seven are the Standing Committee of the Central Committee), the main administrative body headed by the General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee is the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee. And finally, the Central Military Council of the Central Committee of the CCP duplicates and supervises the military council of the PRC.

Daily administers, controls, organizes document flow and other functioning of the Main Directorate (Chancery of the CPC Central Committee). In addition, there is the Central Commission, which is subordinate only to the All-China Congress, in its functions - the control of discipline, the fight against corruption and other serious crimes in the party ranks. There is also a Political and Legal Commission in the country as the central party body of legal and administrative policy. The political security unit with the functions of physical protection of the leadership is the CCP Central Security Bureau.

Congress functions

The congress has two formal functions: it introduces and approves amendments, changes to the party charter, and elects the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China. Further, the Central Committee at the plenum elects the Politburo, together with the Standing Committee and the General Secretary. But almost all of these decisions are made long before the congress, where the policies that the Communist Party of China is going to implement and the country's development priorities for the next five years are only made public.

PDA –is not China's only key body of political power. There is also the State Council and the People's Liberation Army. The People's Political Consultative Council has an advisory vote, and in the 1980s the Central Commission, created by Deng Xiaoping, functioned, where CCP advisers sat.

Quantity

The formation of the Chinese Communist Party in 1921 did not herald its current political strength, as the organization was incredibly small: only twelve delegates attended the first illegal congress in Shanghai. By 1922, the number of communists had increased dramatically: there were one hundred and ninety-two. In 1923, the CCP numbered four hundred and twenty people, a year later - almost a thousand. In 1927, the party grew to 58,000 members, and in 1945 it crossed a million. When the resistance of the Kuomintang fell, the party's growth rate became incredible, by 1957 more than ten million people joined the CCP, and in 2000 their number grew to sixty million.

The next congress of the party in 2002 allowed the admission of businessmen into its ranks, which significantly increased the number of members. Moreover, Zhang Ruimin, who is the president of Haier Corporation, was elected to the Central Committee, which was generally unheard of until now. Thus, millionaires and billionaires came to the CCP, for example, Liang Wengen actively participated in the CCP congress, despite the fact that he was ranked first in the 2011 Forbes millionaire rating. The CCP now has over 85 million members.

ConsequencesCultural Revolution

During the period from 1965 to 1976, China's political events, the so-called Cultural Revolution, caused a struggle and crisis within the Communist Party, which was due to both domestic and foreign policy of Mao Zedong.

His supporters, with the help of loyal military units and student youth, consistently destroyed all party organizations, except for the army, dissolved party committees, repressed party workers, including many full members, candidates for the Politburo and the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China.

Reforms

After Mao's death, it wasn't until 1979 that the country embarked on reforms and expansion of foreign relations under the leadership of Deng Xiaoping, Secretary General from 1976 to 1981. The goals of the Chinese Communist Party changed dramatically, as a serious modernization of the country was needed. The reforms were carried out consistently and very widely in all spheres of the political and economic system.

Thus, the main directions along which the country's development should take place have also been determined. The new goal was the creation of socialism with Chinese characteristics, which implies the continuation of reforms and openness to the outside world. Elected Secretary General in 2012, Xi Jinping continued this policy, confirming the old postulate: only the Chinese Communist Party can achieve the revival of the country.

Political domination

The architect of the reforms was Deng Xiaoping, who shrewdly tried with all his might to keep the power over the processes in the hands of the CCP. The possibilities of the party and its potential made it possible, even in the conditions of modern China, to reject the path of democratization and preserve the previously established political foundations. On the one hand, this decision was influenced by the example of the USSR, and on the other hand, by the examples of Taiwan and South Korea. The party's monopoly on power is to ensure the status quo in the PRC system of party policy for many years.

The slogan and new goal of "building socialism with Chinese characteristics" appeared in connection with the need for reforms carried out "from above", that is, changes in society, both social and economic, but observing the continuity of power and maintaining the dominant role of the party in all processes. The word "socialism" is key here. That is why the name of Mao Zedong will never be completely discriminated against in China. Now, by the way, it sounds more and more often and with unprecedented reverence. The CCP's power is returning to its roots.

Intraparty factions

The so-called "Beijing Komsomol members" - neo-Maoists, most often coming from the poorest regions, advocate the speedy development of their native places at the expense of richer provinces, for example, coastal ones. They see China as a leader in the developing world. The leader of this group is Hu Jintao, former general secretary of the CPC Central Committee. His successor as Secretary General, Xi Jinping, has long been considered a supporter of the Shanghai Group, but nevertheless entered into an alliance with the Beijing Group.

The so-called "Shanghai Clique" are Shanghainese CCP officials whom"promoted" Jiang Zemin, while still the mayor of Shanghai, and later received the post of chairman of the PRC. After he left this post, the threads of power in the entire leadership of the CCP remained in his hands, there were people everywhere. There is another grouping in the top of the party called "Old Disgruntled" who oppose market reforms.

Xi Jinping

In 2012, Xi Jinping took the place of Hu Jintao, who led the party for ten years. This candidacy was "rested" for a very long time: five years before that moment, it was unofficially decided that he would be the leader of the Communist Party of China. Then he took the second post - he became the chairman of the military council of China.

Gradually, the behavioral "nuts" within the party are tightened ever tighter. New rules came out in 2015, for example, banning Chinese communists from playing golf, eating extravagant food, and even attending alumni reunions. It is strictly forbidden to criticize the party in any way.

More specifically about bans

In addition, from January 1, 2016, party members were forbidden to attend fitness, golf, and any other private clubs. They are prescribed simplicity in all manifestations and protection from extravagance. The prohibitions are actually severe: there should not be a single irresponsible remark about the policy of the party, it is forbidden to change citizenship, it is also forbidden to permanently ride abroad, do not maintain unofficial relations with non-members of the party (this includes just neighbors at the place of residence, classmates and comrades in arms), do not use sexual services,Moreover, they should not be provided, "inappropriate" sexual relations should not be either. Thus, the chairman of the Chinese Communist Party apparently wants to launch a new anti-corruption regime, as well as consolidate his power.

Prohibition of religion in the CCP

Abstinence from religion has now become a concern for all members of the Chinese Communist Party, including former officials. The religious activity of citizens who occupy or have occupied any responsible position of importance is subject to control and punishment is inevitably coming, up to and including exclusion from the ranks. According to Reuters, even long-retired officials are barred from participating in religious activities. Although freedom of religion is enshrined in the Chinese Constitution, the Chinese Communist Party closely monitors all employees who are usually members of the Party.

China's Official Parliamentary Gazette released a statement from the organizational department saying that former civil servants are also required to refrain from belonging to a religion. Party members cannot join religious associations, on the contrary, they are required to actively resist cult evil. However, activity, emphasizes this government body, which is associated with any traditional ethnic folk rites, if it is not related to the religion of any denomination, is quite acceptable. Religious organizations in the People's Republic of China for various reasons recentlyhave intensified, which is why repressions against various religious leaders have become tougher, harsh suppression of all kinds of religious meetings and actions is being carried out.