Chinese Communism And The Rise Of Classification

The Historical Context

Chinese Communism has had a significant impact on the country's history and development for decades. From the establishment of the People's Republic of China in 1949 to the reign of Mao Zedong and the subsequent economic reforms, the ideology of communism shaped the nation in various ways. Nevertheless, one aspect that often goes unnoticed is the rise of classification and how it was intertwined with the principles of Chinese Communism.

The Ideological Framework

At its core, Chinese Communism aimed to establish a classless society and distribute resources equally among the population. However, achieving such an ambitious goal required categorizing individuals and assessing their contributions to society. This laid the foundation for the rise of classification within Chinese society.

Creating the Intellectual: Chinese Communism and the Rise of a Classification

by Diana F Cameron(Kindle Edition)

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The Great Leap Forward and Classification

The Great Leap Forward, a campaign initiated by Mao Zedong in 1958, further exacerbated the need for classification in China. The aim was to accelerate the country's industrialization and modernization, but it led to disastrous consequences. As classification became more prevalent, it contributed to the separation of people into different classes based on their skillsets and contributions to society.

The Cultural Revolution and Classification

In the 1960s, the Cultural Revolution took center stage, demanding loyalty to Mao Zedong and the Chinese Communist Party. It brought about a wave of political upheaval and led to the classification of individuals as either loyal or counter-revolutionaries. This classification system enforced strict social control and adversely affected many Chinese citizens.

Classification in Modern China

While the intense periods of classification diminished after the reforms initiated by Deng Xiaoping in the late 1970s, it still remains an integral part of Chinese society today. The Chinese government utilizes a sophisticated surveillance system known as the Social Credit System, classifying citizens based on their behavior and conformity to societal norms.

The Social Credit System and Classification

The Social Credit System assigns each citizen a score based on various factors, including financial credibility, criminal history, social media activity, and overall trustworthiness. This system determines an individual's access to certain privileges, such as job opportunities, travel options, and access to loans. It has sparked debates regarding privacy concerns and the potential for a dystopian social order.

The Classification of Ethnic Minorities

Chinese Communism and its classification policies have also had significant implications for ethnic minorities, particularly the Uighurs in Xinjiang. The Chinese government has implemented a classification system targeting this group, resulting in widespread surveillance, detention camps, and violations of human rights.

The Future of Classification in China

As Chinese Communism evolves and the country continues its journey towards modernization, the question remains: what lies ahead for classification in China? With advancements in technology, artificial intelligence, and big data, the Chinese government is likely to further refine and expand its classification systems, potentially influencing every aspect of its citizens' lives.

Chinese Communism and the rise of classification are intricately linked. The ideals of communism necessitated the categorization of individuals, resulting in various forms of classification throughout China's history. From the turbulent periods of the Great Leap Forward and the Cultural Revolution to the modern-day Social Credit System, classification has been a powerful tool in shaping Chinese society and exerting control over its citizens. As the country moves forward, it is crucial to examine the impact of classification and the potential consequences it holds for the future.

Creating the Intellectual: Chinese Communism and the Rise of a Classification

by Diana F Cameron(Kindle Edition)

4.2 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	5304 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Print length	:	247 pages
Lending	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported

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This book is freely available in an open access edition thanks to TOME (Toward an Open Monograph Ecosystem)—a collaboration of the Association of American Universities, the Association of University Presses, and the Association of Research Libraries—and the generous support of the University of California, Davis. Learn more at the TOME website, available at: openmonographs.org.

Creating the Intellectual redefines how we understand relations between intellectuals and the Chinese socialist revolution of the last century. Under the Chinese Communist Party, "the intellectual" was first and foremost a widening classification of individuals based on Marxist thought. The party turned revolutionaries and otherwise ordinary people into subjects identified as usable but untrustworthy intellectuals, an identification that profoundly affected patterns of domination, interaction, and rupture within the revolutionary enterprise. Drawing on a wide range of data, Eddy U takes the reader on a journey that examines political discourses, revolutionary strategies, rural activities, urban registrations, workplace arrangements, organized protests, and theater productions. He lays out in colorful detail the formation of new identities, forms of organization, and associations in Chinese society. The outcome is a compelling picture of the mutual constitution of the intellectual and the Chinese socialist revolution, the legacy of which still affects ways of seeing, thinking, acting, and feeling in what is now a globalized China.