Chinese Communist Party

Guide Note

The Chinese Communist Party, or the CPC, is the sole political party of China. Founded in 1921, the party fought against the Kuomintang, eventually pushing them out of mainland China and onto Taiwan. The party structure was destroyed during The Cultural Revolution and subsequently rebuilt, as "communism with Chinese characteristics," by Deng Xiaoping after the death of Mao Zedong in 1976. It was at this time that the party adopted a blended economic and political system that embraced elements of Marxism and free-market capitalism while at the same time maintaining authoritative political domination. The party has been widely criticized for its human rights record, censorship of the internet and media and, as illustrated most recently by protests in Tibet, its "one China policy."

Fast Facts

1. Founded: 1921
2. Leaders: Mao Zedong, Deng Xiaoping, Jiang Zemin, Hu Jintao
3. Membership: 70 million
4. National Membership: 5% of the Chinese population
5. Largest political party in the world

Also try: EU-China Summit | China Human Rights | China Censorship | Tibet Protests 2008

The Mahalo Top 7

1. Official Site: News of the Communist Party of China
2. Wikipedia: Chinese Communist Party
3. CNN: 80 Years of Power: China's Communist Party 
4. People's Daily: Hu Jintao Reelected Chinese Communist Party Chief (October 22, 2007)
5. USA Today: Power in China Still Flows from the Party (October 19, 2007)
6. Council on Foreign Relations: The Communist Party of China (October 12, 2007)
7. Jamestown Foundation: Toward a System of 'One Party, Two Factions'? (December 6, 2006)

Chinese Communist Party Recent News

• BBC News: Changing China
• Google News: Chinese Communist Party
• BBC News: China's New Faces Set Stage for 2012 (October 22, 2007)
• China Daily: Religion Mentioned in CPC Constitution (October 22, 2007)
• New York Times: Hu Stronger as China Communists Regroup (October 22, 2007)
• Reuters: Chinese Communist Party to Unveil New Leadership (October 21, 2007)
• BBC News: China's Elusive President (October 16, 2007)
• The Times: What Goes on at the Chinese Communist Party Congress? (October 15, 2007) 
• BBC News: China Party Congress (October 12, 2007) 
• Xinhua News: CPC Holds Grand Rally to Celebrate 85th Founding Anniversary (June 30, 2006)

Chinese Communist Party Background and Articles

• People's Daily: The Communist Party of China (CPC)
• Columbia University: Overview of China's Political System
• University of Chicago: Panel: Politics and Society in China (April 28, 2006) (64KB) 
• Etext Archives: A Basic Understanding of the Communist Party of China(1974) 

Organization and Structure

• BBC News: How China is Ruled and China's Leaders
• China.org: Constitution of the Communist Party of China
• People's Daily: How Delegates to 17th CPC National Congress Elected? (August 06, 2007)

History

• University of Washington: The Chinese Communist Party
• China.org: An Illustrated History of the Communist Party of China
• Etext Archives: Historical Documents from the Communist Party of China
• People's Democracy: A Brief History of the Communist Party of China (July 08, 2001)

Guiding Ideologies

• Official Site: On the Three Represents
• Wikipedia: Deng Xiaoping Theory
• Xinhua News: Hu Jintao Proposes Scientific Outlook on Development (October 15, 2007)
• Monthly Review: What Maoism has Contributed (September, 2006)

Chinese Communist Party Videos and Media

• BBC News: Ruling China: The Party  
• Reuters: China's Future Leaders (Time 02:06)
• NPR News: China Attacks Communist Party Corruption (Time 04:06)
• AOL Video: Resignation from the Chinese Communist Party (Time 00:39)
• YouTube: China Prepares for Party Congress (Time 02:19)
• Google Image Search: Chinese Communist Party
• Yahoo! Image Search: Chinese Communist Party
• Flickr Search: Chinese Communist Party

Chinese Communist Party Blogs and Message Boards

• Danwei: Stifled Laughter: How the Communist Party Killed Chinese Humor
• PanAsianBiz: Religion Mentioned in the Communist Party of China Constitution for First Time
• Engadget: Chinese Astronauts Want Space-Based Communist Party Branch
• Spaceports: Communist Party in Space?
• YaleGlobal: Amber Light From the Party

Chinese Communist Party Criticism

• Epoch Times: Nine Commentaries on the Communist Party 
• World Socialist Web: A Celebration of Private Wealth and Market Success (October 26, 2007)
• Far East Economic Review: "Have China Scholars All Been Bought?" (April, 2007)
• BBC News: Party Elders Attack China Censors (February 14, 2006)

Chinese Communist Party Timeline

• 1921: Chen Duxiu and Li Dazhao start a Marxist study group in Shanghai
• 1921: July, The First Congress is held during which the Communist Party of China is officially named
• 1923: With help from the Soviet Union, the party reorganizes to follow a Leninist ideal
• 1926-1927: Communists fight alongside the Kuomintang in the Northern Expedition
• 1934-1935: The Communist Party is sent on The Long March
• 1949: October 1, After a long civil war, the People's Republic of China is established by Mao Zedong
• 1949-1961: The Great Leap Forward leads to rapid growth followed by collapse and famine
• 1966-1976: The Cultural Revolution leads to widespread chaos and destruction
• 1976: September 9, Mao Zedong dies
• 1976: Deng Xiaoping initiates "Socialism with Chinese Characteristics" and economic reform
• 1989: The Tiananmen Square Protests highlight social and ideological unrest
• 1997: The Deng Xiaoping Theory is adopted into the Party constitution
• 2003: Under Jiang Zemin, the "Three Represents" are ratified as a new ideology
• 2005: Hu Jintao and Wen Jiabao introduce the Harmonious Society and Scientific Development Concept

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