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| Power and popularity of China's Communist Party | Power and popularity of China's Communist Party |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| By Michael Bristow BBC News, Beijing | By Michael Bristow BBC News, Beijing |
| In the grounds of what used to be a church school in Beijing, the Chinese Communist Party has set up an altogether different educational institution. It is still a school, but its aim has changed. Here they worship the party, not God. | In the grounds of what used to be a church school in Beijing, the Chinese Communist Party has set up an altogether different educational institution. It is still a school, but its aim has changed. Here they worship the party, not God. |
| This school is part of a system of control that has kept the communists in power in this huge nation for more than half a century. | This school is part of a system of control that has kept the communists in power in this huge nation for more than half a century. |
| As it celebrates its 90th anniversary this week, the party seems as strong as it ever has, sitting on top of a country that is getting more powerful by the day. | As it celebrates its 90th anniversary this week, the party seems as strong as it ever has, sitting on top of a country that is getting more powerful by the day. |
| But there are problems that make the party surprisingly vulnerable despite its economic success. | But there are problems that make the party surprisingly vulnerable despite its economic success. |
| It tolerates little dissent and ultimately maintains control through a system that uses force to suppress those who disagree with its rule. | |
| Some say this cannot continue and the party will have to reform if it is to survive. | Some say this cannot continue and the party will have to reform if it is to survive. |
| Studying Mao | Studying Mao |
| The Chinese Communist Party is all powerful. It decides the policies, the government carries them out. Its reach extends into all aspects of life. | The Chinese Communist Party is all powerful. It decides the policies, the government carries them out. Its reach extends into all aspects of life. |
| With no apparent sense of irony, the party recently announced it would supervise the polls organised to select local government officials - to ensure "fair elections". | With no apparent sense of irony, the party recently announced it would supervise the polls organised to select local government officials - to ensure "fair elections". |
| The Beijing Communist Party School is just one example of the control it exerts. | The Beijing Communist Party School is just one example of the control it exerts. |
| Senior party members have to undergo three months of training at schools like this every three years to make sure they understand the organisation's latest ideas. | Senior party members have to undergo three months of training at schools like this every three years to make sure they understand the organisation's latest ideas. |
| They then take those back to their jobs and implement them. | They then take those back to their jobs and implement them. |
| One of those attending a recent lecture at the school was Chu Xiaolin, the deputy-editor of the Beijing Daily newspaper. | One of those attending a recent lecture at the school was Chu Xiaolin, the deputy-editor of the Beijing Daily newspaper. |
| "We don't understand everything about society - so the party school provides us with experts from all walks of life," she said. | "We don't understand everything about society - so the party school provides us with experts from all walks of life," she said. |
| "They give us the latest information. This allows us to deal with problems in a more comprehensive manner." | "They give us the latest information. This allows us to deal with problems in a more comprehensive manner." |
| The class she attended outlined the challenges the party faces from the internet. | The class she attended outlined the challenges the party faces from the internet. |
| At another lecture at another school, party members were studying Mao Zedong, the communists' most revered revolutionary leader. | At another lecture at another school, party members were studying Mao Zedong, the communists' most revered revolutionary leader. |
| Under Chairman Mao's leadership tens of millions of people died, but party members do not study him to learn about his mistakes - they are taught about his political skill. | Under Chairman Mao's leadership tens of millions of people died, but party members do not study him to learn about his mistakes - they are taught about his political skill. |
| The professor giving the lecture, Liu Feng, said the former leader understood how to relate to people, and that is something party members need to know. | The professor giving the lecture, Liu Feng, said the former leader understood how to relate to people, and that is something party members need to know. |
| "If the Chinese Communist Party is to rule, it has to have legitimacy. We need people's approval and support," said Prof Liu. | "If the Chinese Communist Party is to rule, it has to have legitimacy. We need people's approval and support," said Prof Liu. |
| Opponents crushed | Opponents crushed |
| But the party has no plans to seek that approval by introducing democratic elections, even though there is debate among senior leaders about political reform. | But the party has no plans to seek that approval by introducing democratic elections, even though there is debate among senior leaders about political reform. |
| Zhou Chunming, an administrator at the Beijing party school, said the communists had no need to change the system because most people supported it. | Zhou Chunming, an administrator at the Beijing party school, said the communists had no need to change the system because most people supported it. |
| He added: "Democracies have their problems too. Why did Hitler come to power in Germany? It's because of democracy." | He added: "Democracies have their problems too. Why did Hitler come to power in Germany? It's because of democracy." |
| China is, in fact, currently engaged in the biggest crackdown on dissent in recent years. This is the darker side of party's control over society. | China is, in fact, currently engaged in the biggest crackdown on dissent in recent years. This is the darker side of party's control over society. |
| The party-directed government now spends more money on internal security than on national defence, locking up Tibetans, pro-democracy activists and people forced from their homes for redevelopment - anyone who threatens its rule. | The party-directed government now spends more money on internal security than on national defence, locking up Tibetans, pro-democracy activists and people forced from their homes for redevelopment - anyone who threatens its rule. |
| In recent weeks it has deployed the army-controlled People's Armed Police to quell dissenting Mongolians in the north and rioting migrant workers in the south. | In recent weeks it has deployed the army-controlled People's Armed Police to quell dissenting Mongolians in the north and rioting migrant workers in the south. |
| That does not mean the Communist Party is not prepared to change. The party has survived so long precisely because it has adapted. | That does not mean the Communist Party is not prepared to change. The party has survived so long precisely because it has adapted. |
| Thirty years ago it began abandoning communism for capitalism, leading to the economic boom that will probably make China the world's richest country sometime in the middle of this century. | Thirty years ago it began abandoning communism for capitalism, leading to the economic boom that will probably make China the world's richest country sometime in the middle of this century. |
| Sidney Rittenberg, one of just a handful of Americans to join the Chinese Communist Party, said it would have to change again if it is to survive. | Sidney Rittenberg, one of just a handful of Americans to join the Chinese Communist Party, said it would have to change again if it is to survive. |
| "We'll get to a certain point where people will no longer be willing to have an advanced market economy and a backward political system," said the 89-year-old, who knew Mao. | "We'll get to a certain point where people will no longer be willing to have an advanced market economy and a backward political system," said the 89-year-old, who knew Mao. |
| The Chinese Communist Party is a secretive organisation - members promise to keep its secrets in their pledge of allegiance when they join. | The Chinese Communist Party is a secretive organisation - members promise to keep its secrets in their pledge of allegiance when they join. |
| In an interview with the BBC, party member Zhao Tong telephoned the head of his party cell just before our chat to check it was all right to talk. | In an interview with the BBC, party member Zhao Tong telephoned the head of his party cell just before our chat to check it was all right to talk. |
| "I'll report back to you afterwards," the 33-year-old software engineer told his leader after getting the necessary approval. | "I'll report back to you afterwards," the 33-year-old software engineer told his leader after getting the necessary approval. |
| This secrecy makes it difficult to predict how the party will change in the future. | This secrecy makes it difficult to predict how the party will change in the future. |
| But at the moment it remains in firm control in China - and appears to have the support of most people, many of whom remember the chaos this country has endured in the past. | But at the moment it remains in firm control in China - and appears to have the support of most people, many of whom remember the chaos this country has endured in the past. |
| "The key to having a good knowledge about China lies in a better knowledge of the Communist Party," Ai Ping, vice-director of the party's international department, recently told foreign journalists. | "The key to having a good knowledge about China lies in a better knowledge of the Communist Party," Ai Ping, vice-director of the party's international department, recently told foreign journalists. |
| In many leaders' minds, China and the party are often fused together as one idea. | In many leaders' minds, China and the party are often fused together as one idea. |
| This is a deliberate exaggeration, but one that the communists will be hoping to maintain for many years to come. | This is a deliberate exaggeration, but one that the communists will be hoping to maintain for many years to come. |