Are the Chinese people affected by myths that surround their understanding of the Communist Party of China? Let us examine that hypothesis.
An entire generation has grown up since the 4th June, 1989, a date etched on the minds of all people. Yet, today, the country remains paralyzed under the iron grip of oppressive rule.
The government has not only failed to make any real political changes, but is now repressing dissidents more severely, such that we must wonder whether a revolution is possible soon. Are the Egyptians, Libyans, etc., more courageous than the Chinese?
Deng Xiaoping chose to create a path leading to economic development, and the people have been bought by this economic liberalization. He was very perceptive in securing one-party rule by promising prosperity in exchange for people’s political rights.
The Party has built a huge propaganda machine, which is used to mislead and confuse people. There are two aspects of this; It makes people believe that the Party alone has brought prosperity, rather than the people’s skill and hard work. It promotes the idea that the country would be lost and in total confusion without the Party, creating a fear of chaos, forgetting that the Party has been the root of chaos during the past sixty years.
Deng has been quoted as saying, “Nip the dissident voice in the bud.” And, now, the current leader, has not only continued Deng’s policy, but has developed additional means of creating terror.
World pro-democracy leaders believe that the Party can be reformed, and that dialogue is the way to deal with the problem, but this displays a limited understanding of the Party, by hoping that changes may happen from internal influences.
Is there any hope? Of course there is but, first, we must do away with these myths. In other words, China’s economic development is not due to the Communist Party.
Taiwan and Hong Kong created economic success for themselves decades ago ... without the assistance of a communist government. Russians and Eastern Europeans have removed communist rule without any chaos. It is quite humorous to hear that the leaders believe that China has a democratic system of government with a harmonious society, but a system with “Chinese characteristics”.
It is now the turn of the Chinese people, the ordinary people, to heed the words of a famous Greek philosopher, “The secret of happiness is freedom, and the secret of freedom is courage”.
I was emboldened to write this piece, and gratefully acknowledge a similar piece by Cao Changqing, a political commentator in the U.S., as it occurred to me that the content of his original comments would not survive the Chinese ‘firewall’. Perhaps, my own comment will suffer the same fate.
Freedom is tenuous and not guaranteed even when won in a hard struggle. It means different things in different societies. Sometimes having enough to eat while living without fear of enemies is freedom. Freedom to speak and think independently when basic needs are met is, I believe, rare in human existence. It is definitely not encouraged by the ruling classes. I won't define 'ruling classes'. We know who they are in every society including our own.
ReplyDeleteIs it possible that there are people who are conditioned by propaganda to believe that they have the freedoms that you mention but, in reality, they have few? The belief that there would be chaos if the CCP was brought down is real in the brain-washed minds of many Chinese. Even in Canada, the government energizes the propaganda machine — the last election was an excellent example of it. You and I are bound to have different thoughts about certain subjects because we have been subjected, individually, to various pieces of information. Nevertheless, our freedom to disseminate the information goes without saying ... something that comes very slowly within a totalitarian society.
ReplyDeleteThere should be an entitlement to all freedoms, not, as you seem to suggest, selective or different freedoms. That, in itself, is ironic, in that there should be freedom from discrimination itself ... all forms of discrimination.
It is good that we can discuss this. We must hope that this kind of discussion can penetrate the deteriorating walls of the inner kingdom. And heed the comment of Rudyard Kipling, "We have forty million reasons for failure, but not a single excuse".
In my opinion how the CCP survive would be a more interesting question. The more and more information help Chinese people understand what the situation is, so how the party survive has become an important issue.
ReplyDeleteI heard that the more and more teachers said their teaching is much challenge than ever before. Imagining that we don’t have too many televisions and internet 50 years ago, the critical way to obtain information and knowledge is from books and education. So in that time, most people believe what your teachers said and books. However, young generation would get information from televisions, radios, newspapers and the internet. So, teaching has becoming a challenge job for many teachers. I believe Chinese leaders would have same feeling as teachers have. So democratic policies will be a trend in the future, but democratic leadership would still be a myth.
According to Hofstede cultural dimensions, China is a collectivism society in comparison with other western countries. Therefore, with Chinese culture, we are focusing on group and how to contribute a harmonious society and, people believe that a relationship is more important than a task. That is why having a relationship network is such an important thing in China society. With relationship network, democratic leadership would just be a joke. On the other hand, China must have more and more democratic policies in the future because people are smarter now.
It may seem flippant to remark that the whole world was without TV and the Internet 50 years ago. But, actually, that is why I wrote Why?".
ReplyDeleteDemocratic countries use TV and the Internet to inform and educate their people democratically. Of course, most governments use the media for propaganda purposes, but there are laws that enable open contradictory discussion, whereas, in China information is restricted to one idealogical thought perpetrated by a one party, one thought, system.
I am impressed by your study of Hofstede's cultural dimensions theory. It is interesting to note that initially he only had six values until, later, he studied Chinese culture, and referred to the new value as Confucian dynamism. He admitted that it involves understanding both national and organizational cultures ... something very topical today, as governments grapple with the imperfections of multicultural ideas.
When we begin to understand Chinese culture and history, it is not difficult to make sense of the people's acceptance of a Communist system of government "with Chinese characteristics" (as they say), and it not for anyone to demand something different. But freedoms are essential, and China's human rights issues must change.
Have you heard of the news from Australian government about restricting the news? That means it is not only communist part block news but also democratic country. Yeah~
ReplyDeleteI read lots of debate about democracy and one party government. Of course, they are advantages and disadvantages, the only question is if it suits this country or not? Thailand is a good example of failing democracy and the result is many people died.
I think it would be worse if China go to a democratic government because our culture. But the only thing we can say is people need democratic policies.
Annie, Australia "restricting the news"?
ReplyDeletePlease explain.
Bernie, have you checked the website regarding the internet censorship in Australia? What do you think? In my opinion, it is nothing wrong with the internet censorship in any country as long as the restriction didn’t stop their people to connect with the whole world.
ReplyDeleteThe censorship itself just aims to stop people from unhealthy sex and violence. However, in some countries it has become a propaganda machine. With the economic development, the more and more people widen their horizon by oversea education, international business and travelling. So, it will be a challenge for any party who try to blind their people.
Well..Obviously, it takes time for the majority people to know the world. But it will be a trend in the future and it is my best wishes as well.
ReplyDeleteAnnie; Please provide a reference to, or an explanation of, the Australian Internet censorship.
ReplyDelete