Roland Boer's Blog, page 22

Chinese Trust in the Government

The overwhelming majority of Chinese people trust their government like no other country on earth. This may seem strange to some foreigners who routinely mistrust their government. Yet the statistics speak for themselves. For example, the Edelman Trust Barometer of 2019 notes a rise in the general public’s trust of the government and public institutions … Continue reading Chinese Trust in the Government

Demystifying the Chinese Social Credit System (and Why Everyone Likes It)

Late last year I was travelling on one of the newest high-speed trains (the Fuxian, which cruises at 350 km per hour). At one point during the journey, an announcement was made: if anyone has not yet purchased a ticket, please contact a conductor. Failure to do so would register as a negative on the … Continue reading Demystifying the Chinese Social Credit System (and Why Everyone Likes It)

Chinese democracy in action: The annual two sessions

As the first of the annual ‘two sessions’ of parliamnet opened today (3 March 2019), a rather useful and insightful article appeared in Xinhua News. It explains clearly the development and nature of Chinese democracy, or socialist democracy with Chinese characteristics. The article is copied below: Every year, just before China’s annual two sessions, there … Continue reading Chinese democracy in action: The annual two sessions

Top ten issues for this year’s parliamentary sessions in China

On Sunday, 3 March, 2019, the annual ‘two sessions’ will meet once again in Beijing. They are the National People’s Congress (NPC) and the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), the highest legislative and advisory bodies in the country. Too little is known outside China about these core structures of Chinese governance, which involves more … Continue reading Top ten issues for this year’s parliamentary sessions in China

Chinese Rule of Law and Religion

In a small number of countries (former colonisers all) somewhat sensational and misinformed accounts have appeared of a new wave of religious ‘repression’ in China, targeted at Christian groups and certain forms of Islam (the Uyghur in Xinjiang). Crosses have been removed, churches have been closed down, and even pictures of Mao Zedong have been … Continue reading Chinese Rule of Law and Religion

Pre-publication version of ‘Sovereignty and Human Rights’ available

The final item of three on human rights from a Chinese Marxist perspective is now available. It is my most complete study on the question, offering a comparison between Western European liberal and Chinese Marxist traditions. It may be found at Australian Academy of Humanties symposia website. ‘Sovereignty and Human Rights: A Comparison between the … Continue reading Pre-publication version of ‘Sovereignty and Human Rights’ available

Socialist Rule of Law with Chinese Characteristics

Recently, I came across two assertions, peddled by Western liberal scholars who should know better: 1) China does not have ‘rule of law’, but only ‘rule by law’. The implication is that law is a tool or weapon of governance, and that the government itself is not subject to the law. 2) Since Xi Jinping … Continue reading Socialist Rule of Law with Chinese Characteristics

Lousy Evidence: On the Uselessness of ‘Defector’ Testimony (with relation to Xinjiang)

Some years ago now, there was self-styled ‘historian’ called Robert Conquest. He began his career, in 1948, working for the innocuously sounding ‘Information Research Department’, or IRD. This was an anti-communist unit under the auspices of the British Foreign Office. It was kept secret as long as possible (but the Russians knew about it) and … Continue reading Lousy Evidence: On the Uselessness of ‘Defector’ Testimony (with relation to Xinjiang)

Why I am in favour of brainwashing

Every now and then, I need to address an audience with brains that have been saturated with all types of liberal and bourgeois rubbish. So I have decided to begin my talks as follows: I am in favour of brainwashing … it is a very, very good practice. As Mao Zedong said in 1957 to … Continue reading Why I am in favour of brainwashing

Why is the debate concerning the socialist market economy settled in China?

When I asked a Chinese colleague recently about the socialist market economy, he said ‘why would you be interested in that? The debate is settled and no-one is much conerned with it’. I did point that some international observers still do not understand the socialist market economy. For example, the EU acknowledges that China has … Continue reading Why is the debate concerning the socialist market economy settled in China?