{It comes as no surprise that to many foreigners, the language sounds turgid, repetitive, obsequious, opaque – party-speak of little consequence. To China watchers, the semiotics is blazing: the language consolidates and strengthens the leadership of the party in general and of Xi in specific.}
{To appreciate the deep message of the sixth plenum, we look to party history. There have been only two prior “resolutions on history”. In 1945, the first resolution ensured Mao Zedong’s firm control as absolute leader. In 1981, the second resolution consolidated support for Deng Xiaoping and his reform and opening-up policy.
From the party’s perspective, both of these prior resolutions unified thinking and gathered strength to complete new historical tasks, which is exactly what the party expects from the sixth plenum under general secretary Xi.
But both prior resolutions also involved blunt critiques of contentious problems: for Mao, overcoming severe inner-party politics to attain sole leadership; for Deng, resolving divisive inner-party issues from the chaotic Cultural Revolution (1966-1976). Both previous resolutions consolidated the party under its core leader, quashed dissenting views, and opened a “new era”. In Mao’s era, China “stood up”. In Deng’s era, China “became rich”.
Now, for the party’s third resolution on history, the parallels are striking: consolidating the party under its core leader to commence a third “new era”. In Xi’s era, China “becomes strong”.
However, there are differences between the first two and this third resolution, in that there is now no overt need to resolve past disputes, no lingering negative issues to clean up. The emphasis now is on appreciating the achievements of the past, formulating the goals for the future, and setting forth the policies to bring it all about.}
{It comes as no surprise that to many foreigners, the language sounds turgid, repetitive, obsequious, opaque – party-speak of little consequence. To China watchers, the semiotics is blazing: the language consolidates and strengthens the leadership of the party in general and of Xi in specific.}
{To appreciate the deep message of the sixth plenum, we look to party history. There have been only two prior “resolutions on history”. In 1945, the first resolution ensured Mao Zedong’s firm control as absolute leader. In 1981, the second resolution consolidated support for Deng Xiaoping and his reform and opening-up policy.
From the party’s perspective, both of these prior resolutions unified thinking and gathered strength to complete new historical tasks, which is exactly what the party expects from the sixth plenum under general secretary Xi.
But both prior resolutions also involved blunt critiques of contentious problems: for Mao, overcoming severe inner-party politics to attain sole leadership; for Deng, resolving divisive inner-party issues from the chaotic Cultural Revolution (1966-1976). Both previous resolutions consolidated the party under its core leader, quashed dissenting views, and opened a “new era”. In Mao’s era, China “stood up”. In Deng’s era, China “became rich”.
Now, for the party’s third resolution on history, the parallels are striking: consolidating the party under its core leader to commence a third “new era”. In Xi’s era, China “becomes strong”.
However, there are differences between the first two and this third resolution, in that there is now no overt need to resolve past disputes, no lingering negative issues to clean up. The emphasis now is on appreciating the achievements of the past, formulating the goals for the future, and setting forth the policies to bring it all about.}
