CHN 260 Introduction to

Chinese Civilization

Unit 8-1 Modern China

People’s Republic of China Name – People’s Republic of China

Capital - Beijing

Founding year – October 1, 1949

National anthem - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UctriMuXYS0

National flag http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_of_China

National emblem http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:National_Emblem_of_the_People%27s_Republic_of_China.svg

Population 1,344,130,000

Area 9,600,000 sq kilometers

Provinces and municipalities

Provinces （ 23 ） and autonomous regions (5)

http://www.sacu.org/provmap.html

Municipalities (4) Beijing, Shanghai, Tianjin, Chongqing

http://www.sacu.org/provmap.html

Special Administrative Regions (2) Hong Kong and Macau

Legislation National People’s Congress 全国人民代表大会

A legislative house

The largest parliament in the world

Annual meeting along with the People’s Political Consultative Congress 全国人民政治协商会议

Administration State Council 国务院

Ministries and Commissions 部委

PartiesParties Chinese Communist Party (CCP)

Democratic Parties

Revolutionary Committee of the Kuomintang ( 中国国民党革命委员会 or 民革

China Democratic League ( 中国民主同盟 or 民盟

China Democratic National Construction Association ( 中国民主建国会 or 民建

China Association for Promoting Democracy ( 中国民主促进会 or 民进 ).

Chinese Peasants' and Workers' Democratic Party ( 中国农工民主党 or 农工党 ).

China Zhi Gong Party ( 中国致公党 ).

Jiusan Society ( 九三学社 ).

Taiwan Democratic Self-Government League ( 台湾民主自治同盟 or 台盟 ).

The Structure of the Chinese Communist Party

Some of the past political movements: The crack down of the “counter-

revolutionaries”

The agricultural collectivism and socialist reform

The Great Leap Forward

Campaign against “the rightists”

Four-Clearance movement

Cultural Revolution

Open-door policy 1979

There are two historical periods of open door policy.

The first one was in 1899 allowing multiple imperial powers access to China after the Opium War

The second open-door policy period started in 1979

The policy was started by Deng Xiaoping, the CCP leader

The aim of the policy is to make China a modernized country

Deng’s theory: “It doesn’t matter whether its is a white cat or a black cat, it is a good cat as long as it catches mice”

Result – rapid development of China’s economy

1. GDP has grown at an annual average rate of 10 % for 30 years

2. China becomes world’s second largest economy

3. Largest exporter, second largest importer, second largest trading nation in the world

4. Foreign reserves: $2,447 billion (Mar 2010; ranked 1st), 1 billion per day

In two decades China has experienced the same degree of industrialization, urbanization and social transformation as Europe did in two centuries - Newsweek, Issue 1, 2008.

“Rome is not built in one day.” But a new “Manhattan” appeared in Shanghai in 15 years.

not built in one day.” But a new “Manhattan” appeared in Shanghai in 15 years.

Major problems

Economy bubble (over-investment)

Decrease of export volume

Discrepancy between the rich and poor

Corruption of officials

Future

China will become the second economical super-power

There is a long way to go to be completely democratic