1. Presentation for POL 324 Dr. Kevin Lasher

2. Jiang Zemin and
Rebuilding the CCP

3. Post-Tiananmen
CCP badly damaged by Tiananmen Massacre events

4. Post-Tiananmen Political reform ended
Economic reform frozen until 1992

5. Deng Xiaoping makes Jiang Zemin new General Secretary during Tiananmen protests

6. Jiang: Restore stability, manage “transition” and prepare for next stage of economic reforms

7. Jiang: Court multiple constituents, but retain backing of main patron Deng

8. Jiang: Maintain position after Deng’s death in 1997

9. Jiang Zemin: Third Generation
Former mayor and party chief of Shanghai
Not part of “Tiananmen leadership”
Not very well-known (Politburo)
Technocrat/electrical engineer
Not a Long-Marcher or hero of revolution (joins party in 1947)
Not charismatic like Mao or Deng
Another transitional leader like Hua Guofeng? (NO)

10. Jiang Zemin: Third Generation
General Secretary in 1989
Chairman of Central Military Commission 1989
President in 1993
The Grand Engineer – who kept the Chinese machine running

11. Jiang Zemin: Third Generation
Remains CMC chairman until 2004
Promotes “Shanghai Group” into top CCP positions
Moves into retirement after 2004; unable to remain “hidden power” like Deng

12. Jiang Zemin: Third Generation
Contradictory story is that Jiang has retained some power “behind the scenes,” especially through cronies who remained in influential positions
Suggestion that current GenSec Xi Jinping may even have elderly Jiang arrested for corruption
At least Xi has purged a number of Jiang’s “Shanghai Group” from positions of power

13. “Communist Party Mouthpiece Puts Jiang Zemin on Notice”
Epoch Times

14. “Many of our Party leaders, once they have stepped down from their posts, have correctly treated their change in positions. They do not interfere in the work of the new leadership.”
“However, there are Party leaders who, while they are still in power, name their ‘trusted aides’ to take on key positions for the purpose of extending their influence in the future. What’s more, after these Party leaders have stepped down, they are not willing to give up exerting their influence on major issues …”
China People’s Daily, August 2015
Jiang Not Arrested

15. Jiang Zemin: Third Generation
CEO of collective leadership

16. Jiang Zemin: Third Generation
Lowell Dittmer says Jiang served eight-year “internship;” his “neutrality” enabled him to remain as core leader

17. Jiang Zemin: Third Generation
Jiang showed considerable ability to please diverse group of elders prior to 1997 and to placate members of collective leadership after 1997

18. Jiang’s Policies
Help Deng re-launch economic reforms (some resistance ?)
Eventually renews and expands market reforms
Launches painful reforms of bloated state-owned enterprises (SOEs) with considerable success
Consolidated position as first among collective leadership (first heir to survive – Liu, Lin, Hua, Hu, Zhao)

19. Jiang’s Policies Deng’s death in 1997 uneventful Join WTO in 2001
Win right to 2008 Olympic Games
Rebuild and strengthen CCP
Leader during “second phase” of economic reforms

20. Jiang’s Policies Conflict with Taiwan, 1995-96 and beyond
China conducts three series of missile tests near Taiwan in an effort to influence the outcome of first fully democratic presidential election in Taiwan
Incumbent Lee Teng-hui viewed as favoring “full independence” for Taiwan (not true)
China’s efforts to bully Taiwan help ensure Lee Teng-hui’s election

21. Jiang’s Policies Brutal crackdown on Falun Gong “religion” in 1999
Problems that accompany economic growth; overemphasis on growth in coastal regions; urban-rural divide; pollution
Lack of major political reform
Growth of corruption, especially among “Shanghai Group”

23. 9.0% annual GDP growth,

24. Jiang’s Ideology
Three represents: development of China’s advanced productive forces; development of China’s advanced culture, and the fundamental interests of the overwhelming majority of the people in China
“Primary stage of socialism”

25. Jiang’s Ideology
Further legitimization of “private sector” in China’s economy
Invitation for “capitalists” (private businessmen) to join CCP in 2002

26. Peaceful Transition
Relatively smooth transition to 4th generation led by GenSec Hu Jintao
Jiang remains as Chair of CMC until late 2004

27. Peaceful Transition
Re-establishment of China as stable, bureaucratic, authoritarian system with increasingly powerful “socialist market” economy (following Tiananmen crisis)

28. Jiang’s Legacy Stable leadership in post-crisis period
Laid foundation of CCP rule in market reform China
Good relations with US
Globalizing, rising China
Setting the bar too low?

29. Jiang’s Legacy
Moving China in the direction of some form of democracy --- NO

30. The End