By Matija Šerić
The economic reforms maintained a certain continuity and gradually moved forward until Xi Jinping came to power in 2012. He halted and even rolled back some reforms. Deng’s vision was to devolve certain powers from the central government to private companies and local authorities, while Xi thinks entirely differently. He prefers centralization. For this reason, he increased the state’s role in the economy, which was already substantial. Xi was motivated by widespread corruption at the local level, and as a staunch anti-corruption advocate, he decided to expand the role of the central government.
In 2017, Xi upgraded the model of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics with his Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. The new model was incorporated into the Chinese Constitution in 2018. In short, Xi combines Chinese Marxism with national rejuvenation. His thought includes strengthening the party’s role, developing a market economy under state supervision, launching the concept of the Chinese Dream, military modernization, green development, and China’s prominent role in the international order.
Social Control
Social control by the Communist Party in China is typical of both former and current communist states. Through technology, particularly surveillance cameras and facial recognition technology, the authorities monitor public spaces and track citizen movements to maintain order. The internet is strictly regulated by a censorship system known as the “Great Chinese Firewall,” which filters information and blocks access to foreign platforms like Facebook, Google, and Twitter (X). The Chinese government also uses a “Social Credit System” to evaluate citizens’ behavior, rewarding those who follow state guidelines and punishing violators, thereby shaping societal behavior.
How does the Chinese Communist Party operate?
Religious and Ethnic Discrimination
Discrimination against religious and ethnic minorities is widespread, a characteristic that accompanies communist regimes. In Xinjiang, the Muslim Uighur minority faces intense discrimination, including the use of biometric technology and mandatory security checks. Reports indicate the existence of “reeducation camps,” where Uighurs are subjected to cultural assimilation through educational programs and religious practices are banned. Tibetan Buddhists are denied freedom of religion and identity expression. The Chinese authorities limit the number of monks and nuns in monasteries, monitor religious activities, and attempt to impose state control over the selection of Tibetan Buddhist leaders, like the Dalai Lama. Although
Christianity is legal in China, non-state-controlled Christian churches are often the target of police raids. The state actively monitors church content, and crosses and other religious symbols in public spaces have been removed or replaced with Chinese national symbols. Only the state-owned Amity Press is authorized to print the Bible for the Chinese market, and quantities are limited to state-controlled churches. Recently, authorities have closed websites that sold Bibles. Falun Gong, a spiritual practice combining meditation and moral principles, was banned in 1999, and since then, the Chinese government has carried out strict repression against its practitioners.
China crushes down Muslims
China Follows the Communist Path
Although today’s China is not the communist state envisioned by Marx and Engels in the 19th century or Lenin in the 20th century, it is undoubtedly still communist. If someone claims to be a communist (as Chinese leaders do) and has retained most of the theoretical and practical ideas of communism, there’s no doubt—they are communists.
A more interesting question is how communist the states that emerged in the former Soviet Union and Yugoslavia are today and how capitalist they are. In these states, capitalism and democracy have been formally accepted, while in reality, crony capitalism and quasi-democracy prevail. The real question is how long Chinese communism and socialism will last, as it has been shown that all repressive systems eventually collapse. However, this is a complex question that requires separate analysis.
