Blog Numero Deux

I went back in time and am using a printed copy of the economist: the March 17-23rd 2012 edition, "The sacking of Bo Xilai" and "Bo Bo Black Sheep"

We talked a bit about this issue in class, but this article goes a bit more in-depth into the real meaning behind some the boat being rocked.

Bo Xilai was fired from his position as party chief of the region of Chongqing on March 15th and replaced by Zhang Dejiang.  He was previously thought to have been destined for the standing committee of the Politburo, a very prestigious position. That was partly because of his status as a "princeling", his father, Bo Yibo, was a leader from Mao's generation.

His dismissal doesn't indicate any change in the party structure, but rather the direction that the party will take.  Bo was infamous for his supposed "no holds barred approach to going after gangsters" when he cracked down on his region's mafia problems. But, his violent campaign really just satisfied his own ends: there are allegations he selectively attacked his personal opponents, including wealthy entrepreneurs.  More suspicion is cast on this situation by the fact that his former police chief, who led the anti-mafia campaign, fled to the American consulate and now is under Chinese investigation.  On top of that, Bo followed extremely "leftist" policies, reviving the "red songs" of the Cultural Revolution and favoring state enterprises. ( Ironically, he also sends his kids to schools in the West.)  His campaigns can be seen as an attempt to discredit his competition for the standing committee seat, Wang Yang, who is more liberal.  This is an indirect vicotry for Wang and may indicate a more liberal future China.

More indications of China's growth come from comments that hinted at Bo's dismissal. The day before Bo was fired, Wen Jiabao made stated that without political reform "a tragedy like the Cultural Revolution" could happen again.  Although turmoil like the the Cultural Revolution has no indication of being on the horizon, the remark was directed at "die-hard Maoists", who form most of Bo's support.