Chinese President Xi Jinping has been working to reinvigorate Maoist ideology within the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), drawing inspiration from the party’s founder, Mao Zedong. Xi’s efforts have included emphasizing the importance of party discipline, centralizing power within the party, and promoting a cult of personality around himself..
Xi’s embrace of Maoism has been met with mixed reactions. Some observers see it as a necessary step to restore order and stability to China after a period of rapid economic growth and social change. Others worry that Xi’s authoritarian tendencies could lead to a return to the excesses of the Mao era..
One of the most visible signs of Xi’s embrace of Maoism has been his emphasis on party discipline. Xi has cracked down on corruption and dissent within the party, and he has demanded that party members adhere to party doctrine. This has led to a number of high-profile expulsions from the party, including that of former Politburo Standing Committee member Bo Xilai..
Xi has also centralized power within the party. He has assumed leadership of a number of important party and state bodies, and he has created new positions to give himself more direct control over the party apparatus. This has led to concerns that Xi is amassing too much power and that he is undermining the collective leadership system that has been in place since the death of Mao..
In addition to emphasizing party discipline and centralizing power, Xi has also promoted a cult of personality around himself. He has been portrayed as a strong and decisive leader, and his image is ubiquitous in Chinese media. This cult of personality has led to comparisons between Xi and Mao, and some observers worry that it could lead to a return to the personality cult that surrounded Mao..
Xi’s embrace of Maoism has had a significant impact on China’s domestic and foreign policy. Domestically, Xi has presided over a crackdown on dissent and a tightening of controls on the media and the internet. He has also promoted a more assertive foreign policy, including increased military spending and a more aggressive stance in territorial disputes..
It is unclear how Xi’s embrace of Maoism will ultimately affect China. Some observers believe that it will lead to a more stable and prosperous China, while others worry that it could lead to a more authoritarian and isolated China. Only time will tell which of these visions will come to pass..
