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Three Represents
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Three Represents (Simplified Chinese: 三个代表; Traditional Chinese: 三個代表; pinyin: sān gè dài biǎo) is a policy developed by Jiang Zemin for the Communist Party of China.
The formal statement of the theory is:
| “ | Reviewing the course of struggle and the basic experience over the past 80 years and looking ahead to the arduous tasks and bright future in the new century, our Party should continue to stand in the forefront of the times and lead the people in marching toward victory. In a word, the Party must always represent the requirements of the development of China's advanced productive forces, the orientation of the development of China's advanced culture, and the fundamental interests of the overwhelming majority of the people in China. | ” |
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— Jiang Zemin's speech at the 16th CPC Congress, November 2002)
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The actual function of the theory is two-fold. It legitimizes the inclusion of capitalists and private entrepreneurs within the Communist Party, and as a result has been the subject of quiet but heated opposition within the party. Second, it is an attempt to cement Jiang Zemin's historical legacy as a Marxist theorist on the level of Mao Zedong for Mao Zedong thought and Deng Xiaoping for socialism with Chinese characteristics. One should note however that the Theory of the Three Represents has been classified as a "theory" rather than a "thought" (思想) making it less important than the ideology of Mao or Deng.
One possible interpretation of the "Three Represents":
- "advanced social productive forces" = businessmen
- "the progressive course of China's advanced culture" = national utilities
- "the fundamental interests of the majority" = democracy
Some of the difficulty in interpreting the theory may be due to translation difficulties; but many Chinese, including members of the Party, find it incomprehensible. Although open criticism of the Theory of the Three Represents is taboo, there have been reports of private unease at this theory from within the Communist Party of China for a number of reasons. Many dislike the focus of the theory on the advanced social productive forces, meaning businessmen, since it ignores the widening social gap between the rich and poor. Also many feel that Jiang Zemin's promotion of the theory was similar to the creation of a cult of personality.
One of the main goals of the Three Represents is to change the Communist Party of China into a governmental and more democratic party, rather than a strictly communist system of government. This opens up the Party to "the overwhelming majority of the Chinese people", such as businessmen and managers. This makes for a party ("dang" 党) that is much more attractive for a greater number of people. The Theory of the Three Represents is another expansion to what the communist government of China would define as "allies". In the very beginning of Maoist regime, everyone except farmers or and workers were classified as "class enemies". Over the years, the number of people that could in fact still be defined as "class enemies" kept reducing, seeing how the number of people that belonged to the "wavering middle" (people that were not allies, but could in fact not threaten the Party's regime) increased.