founding ruling political party sole governing party china alongside legal parties comprise united founded chiefly party grew quickly driven government mainland china second chinese civil war leading establishment currently world second largest political party membership million officially organized basis democratic principle conceived russian democratic open discussion policy condition unity agreed policies highest body convened fifth year session highest body body meets normally year duties responsibilities party leader holds offices general secretary responsible civilian party duties chairman responsible military affairs state president largely ceremonial position posts party leader country paramount leader current party leader elected 18th national congress held committed communist thought continues participate international meeting communist workers parties year according party constitution thought socialism chinese characteristics represents official explanation china economic reforms country primary stage socialism developmental stage similar capitalist mode production planned economy established replaced socialist market economy current economic system basis practice planned economy deemed inefficient collapse eastern european communist regimes dissolution soviet_union emphasized party party relations ruling parties remaining socialist states maintains party party relations non ruling communist parties world 1980s established relations non communist parties notably ruling parties party states ideology dominant parties democratic systems ideology social democratic parties history founding early history origins fourth movement radical like gained traction chinese intellectuals leading chinese intellectual publicly supported world revolution contrast renounce participation affairs regarded october revolution russia groundbreaking believing herald new era oppressed countries modeled theory vanguard party study circles according party study circles established skepticism vehicles reform widespread founding held july originally planned held shanghai french concession police officers interrupted meeting july congress moved tourist boat delegates attended congress able attend sent personal representative attend congress resolutions congress called establishment communist party branch elected leader communists dominated left wing party organized lines struggling power party right wing leader died march succeeded initiated moves position communists fresh success overthrow turned communists numbered tens thousands china ignoring orders based government marched shanghai city controlled communist militias communists welcomed arrival turned aid army marched prevented taking city general troops allies attacked communists beijing leading communists killed forces machine hundreds peasant tens thousands communists killed nationalists losing approximately members continued supporting government july government expelled communists reacted founding workers peasants red army china better known battle battalion led general ordered city august known uprising initially successful forced retreat days marching south driven wilderness appointed commander chief led regiments autumn harvest uprising hoping spark peasant uprisings plan attack held city directions september fourth regiment deserted cause attacking regiment army september accepted defeat survivors marching east chinese civil war world war near destruction urban organizational apparatus led institutional changes party party adopted democratic way organize revolutionary parties established functioned standing committee result increased power party level party standing committees effective control dismissal able assume facto control party organization leadership failure end brink destruction involved powers taken away party informal leader formal head party serving informal deputies conflict led reorganization power centralized leadership creation political departments charged supervising army second sino japanese war caused pause conflict established tackle invasion formally existed collaboration parties ended despite formal alliance opportunity expand independent bases operations prepare coming war began restrict expansion china led frequent clashes forces long situation parties considered civil war option time despite actively expanding territory expense war reduced parties period lasted stages august japanese surrendered june peace talks ended times soldiers command looked early like winning cooperation americans japanese able retake major parts country rule territories prove unpopular endemic corruption party despite advantage million troops failed rural territories stronghold time launched invasion given assistance soviet_union second stage lasting july june saw extend control major cities war successes hollow withdrawn cities instead attacked authorities protests students intellectuals cities responded events heavy handed repression meantime struggling control party weakened ability respond attacks stage lasting july august saw limited objective clear strengthening recovering policy coupled military force spring military lost estimated million troops having million troops left increasing rule result able cut garrisons retake lost territories stage lasting september december saw communist initiative collapse rule mainland china october declared establishment end chinese revolution officially described single ruling party present chinese revolution directed led establishment founded principles precisely officially known thought referred west 1960s 1970s experienced significant ideological separation communist_party soviet_union time begun saying continued revolution dictatorship stipulated class enemies continued exist socialist revolution complete leading cultural revolution following death power struggle general secretary erupted won struggle paramount leader alongside spearheaded reform opening policy introduced ideological concept socialism chinese characteristics reversing leftist policies argued socialist state use market economy capitalist asserting political power party change policy generated significant economic growth new ideology contested sides spectrum supporting political social factors conflicts culminated square protests vision economics prevailed early 1990s concept socialist market economy introduced beliefs embedded constitution general secretary succeeded paramount leader 1990s continued policies nominal legacy ratified represents revision party constitution guiding ideology encourage party represent advanced productive forces progressive course china culture fundamental interests people theory entry private business owners elements party successor paramount leader took office unlike laid emphasis collective leadership opposed man dominance political system insistence focusing economic growth led wide range social problems address introduced main ideological concepts resigned post general secretary chairman 18th held succeeded posts taking power initiated anti corruption effort decades powers office general secretary expense collective leadership led foreign commentators governance collective leadership currently bid powers individual collective leadership idea decisions taken consensus ideal concept origins level central party leadership means instance members equal standing member having vote member represents sector reign controlled security apparatus counts informal power despite relation members body ranked despite fact members theory equal spite led informal leader principle collective leadership led core paramount leader person holds offices general secretary chairman president tenure paramount leader party core collective leadership indistinguishable practice core responsible collective leadership time party begun responsibility system referring official core collective leadership democratic organizational principle democratic based principles democracy synonymous official discourse socialist democracy inner party democracy guiding organizational principle party 5th national congress held words party constitution party integral body organized program constitution basis democratic democratic democratic centralized democracy united definite form claimed superiority democratic laid internal contradictions democracy freedom discipline currently claiming democracy party socialism democracy implemented functioning properly needs democracy form claims needs order according democratic centralized basis democracy democratic centralized guidance system expression democracy powers people levels time guarantee centralized administration governments level exercising centralized management affairs entrusted people corresponding level essential democratic life people multi party cooperation system multi party led cooperation consultation parties united consultation takes place leadership mass organizations united parties representatives walks life contribute theory formation country basic policy fields political economic cultural social affairs relationship parties based principle long term mutual supervision treating sincerity sharing process chinese people political conference parties united support china road socialism hold leadership despite body real power discussions place supervised organization central organization party highest body convened years prior 9th congress convened irregular basis according party constitution congress postponed extraordinary circumstances party constitution gives national congress responsibilities examining report outgoing examining report outgoing discussing party policies party constitution practice delegates rarely discuss issues length substantive discussion takes place congress preparation period group party leaders highest decision making institution responsible supervising party internal anti corruption ethics system authority party highest decision making institution national bodies carry work 1st session newly elected central committee general secretary party titular leader composition leadership according party constitution general secretary member responsible meetings presiding work exercises functions powers session party highest decision making institution session week established 8th national congress policy making role assumed implementation body decisions policy framework established responsible supervising work organizations report directly example departments commissions publications highest decision making institution military affairs party controls operations general secretary served chairman unlike collective leadership ideal party organs chairman acts commander chief authority appoint dismiss military officers security strategies departments including intelligence military foreign affairs police order cope growing challenges stability home abroad general secretary serves chairman departments central leading groups institutions pursue work term term period national usually years party nerve centre charge day day administrative work including communications protocol setting meetings currently main central departments responsible overseeing provincial appointments future appointments oversees media party line media functioning party foreign affairs ministry parties oversees work country non communist parties mass organizations direct control responsible researching issues significant interest party leadership provides political training ideological communist thought high ranking rising sets priorities scholarly research state run universities studies translates classical works party newspaper direct control theoretical magazines published offices hong_kong report central committee session lower level organizations party committees exist level provinces autonomous regions municipalities directly central government cities divided districts autonomous counties including banners autonomous counties cities divided districts municipal districts committees elected party level local party supposed held fifth year extraordinary circumstances held earlier postponed decision approved higher level local party committee number delegates procedures election decided local party committee approval higher party committee local party congress duties responsible examining report local corresponding level examining report local commission discipline inspection corresponding level discussing adopting resolutions major issues given area local local commission discipline inspection corresponding level party committees province autonomous region municipality directly central government city divided districts autonomous elected term years include alternate members party committees county banner autonomous county city divided districts municipal district elected term years alternate members party standing years local party congress held given date term members shall shortened lengthened local responsible higher level number alternate members local decided higher level shall filled alternate members according order precedence decided number votes alternate member got election meetings year tenure shall carry higher party organizations resolutions party corresponding levels local standing committee analogous elected corresponding local party congress responsible corresponding level higher level exercises duties responsibilities corresponding session members join party years age spend year member contrast past emphasis placed applicants ideological criteria current stresses technical educational qualifications member admission oath party flag relevant organization responsible observing members members duties similar members exception vote party elections stand election join private allowed party members according constitution member short follow orders disciplined uphold unity serve party people promote socialist way life members enjoy privilege attending party meetings reading relevant party documents receiving party education participating party discussions party newspapers journals making suggestions proposal making grounded criticism party organization member party meetings central party leadership voting standing election opposing criticizing party resolutions provided carry resolution policy force ability forward request appeal complaint higher party organizations ask organizations concerned responsible reply party organization including central leadership member rights june individuals identify farmers fishermen million members members identifying workers totalled million group managing professional technical staff enterprises public institutions million million identified working administrative staff million described party million women members currently million members making second largest political party world india youth wing largest mass organization youth china according constitution mass organization advanced young people leadership functions party school large number young people learn socialism chinese characteristics communism practice party assistant reserve force join ages controls youth organization children age organizational structure exact copy highest body followed central organs work guidance central leadership peculiar situation bodies responsible higher bodies distinct organization 17th national congress held million members symbols according article constitution party emblem flag symbol sign beginning history single official standard flag instead allowed individual party committees copy flag communist_party soviet_union april decreed establishment sole official flag flag length width proportion hammer upper left corner pointed star custom number standard flags distribute major organs according standard party flag centimeters length width center upper left corner quarter length width border yellow hammer diameter flag sleeve pole white width dimension pole included measure flag red color revolution hammer tools workers peasants meaning represents interests masses people yellow color signifies total flag dimensions sizes length width length width length width length width length width september issued regulations production use flag emblem stated emblem flag official symbols signs party ideology argued recent years mainly foreign commentators ideology party organization pragmatic interested works view considered wrong ways official statements clear party coherent instance stated western world threatening divide international culture west strong weak ideological cultural fields main targets puts great deal effort party schools crafting ideological message practice campaign relationship ideology decision making meaning policy making derived ideological knowledge relationship turned upside decision making ideology way lastly chinese policy makers believe reasons dissolution soviet_union state ideology believe party ideology dynamic safeguard party rule unlike soviet_union communist party ideology believe rigid disconnected reality formal ideology official ideology according reveals universal laws governing development history human society provides vision contradictions capitalist society future socialist communist societies according thought applied developed china thought conceived leading party officials non chinese analysts generally agree rejected orthodox thought basic thoughts orthodox thinking certain groups argue ended formal commitment introduction ideological theory represents party theorist claiming president rid party ideological obstacles different kinds ownership socialism strengthened party providing modern understanding socialism talk socialist market economy chinese characteristics true communism described china ultimate goal claims china primary stage socialism party argue current development stage looks lot like capitalism alternatively certain party argue capitalism early stage communism dismissed concept primary stage socialism intellectual according china analyst heard rationale thought comic clever caricature hack leaked intellectual year horizon comes political added party constitution 14th national congress concepts socialism chinese characteristics primary stage socialism credited theory defined belief state socialism state planning definition communist market mechanisms class neutral addition party needs react changing situation know certain policy obsolete party seek truth facts follow slogan practice sole criterion truth 14th national congress reiterated unnecessary ask socialist capitalist important factor worked literally adapted chinese conditions adopted party 16th national congress certain segments criticized represents betrayal basic values supporters viewed development socialism chinese characteristics disagreed concluded attaining communist mode production formulated earlier communists complex realized useless try force change mode production develop naturally following economic laws history theory notable allowing officially referred new social strata join party grounds engaged honest labor work labour contributed build ing socialism chinese characteristics 3rd session 16th conceived formulated ideology considered contribution official ideological discourse apply scientific outlook development chinese conditions adhere building economics believe fundamental difference capitalist mode production socialist mode production central planning versus free markets said planned economy definition socialism planning capitalism market economy happens socialism planning market forces ways controlling economic activity supported thinking stated party gathering matter certain mechanism capitalist socialist thing worked gathering introduced term socialist market economy replaced planned socialist market economy report 14th national congress told delegates socialist state let market forces play basic role resource allocation 15th national congress party line changed market forces play role resource allocation line continued 3rd session 18th amended let market forces play decisive role resource allocation despite 3rd session 18th upheld creed maintain dominance public sector strengthen economic state owned economy views world organized opposing camps socialist capitalist insist socialism basis historical eventually triumph capitalism recent years party asked explain capitalist occurring party returned writings despite admitting developed capitalist system party leaders theorist argue capitalist reason purely capitalist exclude alternative socialist form market economy specific class character socialist capitalist according party instance fixed nature comes insistence china pursue socialist modernization incorporating elements capitalism considerable optimism despite current capitalist dominance turned vehicle supporting socialism party party relations communist parties continues relations non ruling communist workers parties attends international communist conferences notably international meeting communist workers parties delegates foreign communist parties visit china instance general secretary personally met member instance national secretary met member general secretary personally met secretary communist_party discuss party party relations retains contact major parties communist_party brazil unified party retains relations minor communist workers parties instance recent years noting self reform european social democratic movement 1980s 1990s noted increased west european communist parties ruling parties socialist states retained close relations remaining socialist states communism cuba north_korea vietnam respective ruling parties spends fair time analyzing situation remaining socialist states trying reach conclusions states survived following collapse eastern european socialist states dissolution soviet_union general analyses remaining socialist states chances survival positive believes socialist movement future ruling party interested communist_party vietnam general considered model example socialist development post soviet era chinese analysts vietnam believe introduction reform policy 6th key reason vietnam current success probably organization access north_korea writing north_korea tightly reports accessible general public north korean economic reforms chinese analysts north_korea tend speak positively north_korea public official discussions disdain north_korea economic system cult personality society kim family idea hereditary succession socialist state security state use scarce resources general north korean people analysts compare current situation north_korea china cultural revolution years tried persuade north_korea ruling party introduce economic reforms showing key economic infrastructure china instance invited secretary province showcase success economic reforms brought china general considers north_korea negative examples communist ruling party socialist state considerable degree interest cuba secretary greatly admired books written focusing successes cuban revolution communication increased considerably 1990s hardly month going diplomatic exchange 4th session 16th discussed possibility learning ruling parties praise member met gave personal letter written facts shown china cuba good friends good comrades good brothers treat sincerity countries friendship test international situation friendship strengthened consolidated non communist parties decline fall communism eastern_europe begun establishing party party relations non communist parties relations sought learn instance eager understand maintains total domination politics low key presence total control according analysis singapore dominance explained developed social network controls effectively extending deeply society branches government party controlled groups accepts singapore democracy view guided democracy led differences according political party based working class instead political party elite political party parliamentary system revolutionary party parties studies maintains strong party party relations ruled malaysia japan dominated japanese politics decades time friendly foe emphasizes strong party party relations strengthen probability taiwan mainland china studies written loss power having ruled taiwan officially ruled china general party states dominant party states special interest party party party relations formed study instance longevity syrian regional branch arab socialist party attributed power family strong presidential system inheritance power passed son role given syrian military politics recent years especially interested latin_america shown increasing number delegates sent received countries special fascination year long rule mexico attributed long reign power strong presidential system tapping culture country nationalist posture close identification rural populace implementation alongside economy concluded failed lack inner party democracy pursuit social democracy rigid party structures reformed political corruption pressure american interference mexican politics slow recognize pink tide latin_america strengthened party party relations socialist anti american political parties years occasionally expressed anti capitalist anti american rhetoric despite reached agreement venezuela founded educate political social fields claimed established relations political parties latin american countries social democratic movements europe great interest early 1980s exception short period forged party party relations far right parties 1970s effort halt soviet relations european social democratic parties efforts establish party party relations non communist parties credits european social democrats creating capitalism human face 1980s highly negative dismissive view social democracy view dating second international view social democratic movement 1980s view changed concluded actually learn social democratic movement delegates sent europe observe noted 1980s european social democratic parties facing electoral decline period self reform followed great interest laying weight reform efforts concluded parties elected modernized replacing traditional state socialist new ones supporting belief big government new view welfare state changing negative views market moving traditional support base trade unions younger members students
Communist Party of China