Open Journal of Philosophy

Volume 7, Issue 4 (November 2017)

ISSN Print: 2163-9434   ISSN Online: 2163-9442

Google-based Impact Factor: 0.58  Citations  h5-index & Ranking

Democratic Centralism in Revolutionary China: Tensions within a People’s Democratic Dictatorship

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DOI: 10.4236/ojpp.2017.74024    1,864 Downloads   13,880 Views  Citations
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ABSTRACT

Democratic centralism was a revolutionary strategy to reorganize society in China after 1949; it was the key governing aspect of Mao Zedong’s “people’s democratic dictatorship.” This essay explores the tensions between democracy and centralization in the practice of democratic centralism in 1950s Shanghai. Youth and workers groups reports reveal a high degree of commitment to open debate, elections, self-organization, and new forms of leadership. Other priorities, however—a strong central state regime—would come to dominate and, after 1957, centralism and unity cancelled democracy.

Share and Cite:

Howland, D. (2017) Democratic Centralism in Revolutionary China: Tensions within a People’s Democratic Dictatorship. Open Journal of Philosophy, 7, 448-466. doi: 10.4236/ojpp.2017.74024.

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