Changes

Bo sat on the 25-member Party Politburo and Central Committee, and was Party Secretary of a powerful municipality.  Bo styled himself as a champion of the poor and dispossessed, supporting the state-run economy, lead a crackdown on supposed organized crime bosses, and fanned nostalgia for the violent [[Antifa|Anti-fascist]] Cultural Revolution of the 1960s and 1970s.  Bo’s rhetoric was critical of the [[income gap]] and broken promises to the [[working class]] that accompanied China’s rise to become the world’s second-largest economy. Bo was widely reported as a candidate for promotion to the Politburo Standing Committee.

Bo sat on the 25-member Party Politburo and Central Committee, and was Party Secretary of a powerful municipality.  Bo styled himself as a champion of the poor and dispossessed, supporting the state-run economy, lead a crackdown on supposed organized crime bosses, and fanned nostalgia for the violent [[Antifa|Anti-fascist]] Cultural Revolution of the 1960s and 1970s.  Bo’s rhetoric was critical of the [[income gap]] and broken promises to the [[working class]] that accompanied China’s rise to become the world’s second-largest economy. Bo was widely reported as a candidate for promotion to the Politburo Standing Committee.

Bo’s wife was convicted of [[murder]] of a British businessman in August 2012.  Bo’s vice mayor was convicted of “bending the law for selfish ends, defection, abuse of power and bribe-taking” in September 2012.  Days later, the Party Politburo expelled Bo from the Party’s ranks and announced that it was transferring his case to state judicial authorities. The Party investigation concluded that Bo “bore major responsibility” in the cases of his vice-mayor’s actions and his wife’s involvement in the murder, and alleged that he “took advantage of his office to seek profits for others and received huge bribes personally and through his family.”  [[Social media]] brought the scandal to light, creating problems for existing leadership.</small></ref>

Bo’s wife was convicted of [[murder]] of a British businessman in August 2012.  Bo’s vice mayor was convicted of “bending the law for selfish ends, defection, abuse of power and bribe-taking” in September 2012.  Days later, the Party Politburo expelled Bo from the Party’s ranks and announced that it was transferring his case to state judicial authorities. The Party investigation concluded that Bo “bore major responsibility” in the cases of his vice-mayor’s actions and his wife’s involvement in the murder, and alleged that he “took advantage of his office to seek profits for others and received huge bribes personally and through his family.”  [[Social media]] brought the scandal to light, creating problems for existing leadership.</small></ref> Problems lie in China's [[single-party control|one-party system]]. 

With 85 million dues-paying members, just over 6% of China’s population of 1.35 billion, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is the largest political party in the world with some 80+ million members (2013 data).   

With 85 million dues-paying members, just over 6% of China’s population of 1.35 billion, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is the largest political party in the world with some 80+ million members (2013 data).  The party exercises extreme control over every aspect of the Chinese people's lives, from what they see on [[social media]] to how many children they can have.  The Chinese Communist party tries to be all-powerful.  The entire structure of the Communist Party, from top to bottom, encourages corruption and abuses.  In this type of system, the party takes all the credit when things go well, but it bears none of the responsibility when things go wrong.

 

Problems lie in China's [[single-party control|one-party system]].  It exercises extreme control over every aspect of the Chinese people's lives, from what they see on [[social media]] to how many children they can have.  The Chinese Communist party tries to be all-powerful.  The entire structure of the Communist Party, from top to bottom, encourages corruption and abuses.  In this type of system, the party takes all the credit when things go well, but it bears none of the blame when things go badly. With great power comes great responsibility, except the CCP holds an opposite doctrine.  It wants to have all the power and not take any responsibility, especially when things go wrong.  

Since 2011 the Chinese government's Internal Security budget, which is also known as their Stability Maintenance budget, has been larger than their military budget. The Communist Party considers any threat to stability as a threat to their rule.

Since 2011 the Chinese government's Internal Security budget, which is also known as their Stability Maintenance budget, has been larger than their military budget. The Communist Party considers any threat to stability as a threat to their rule.