After nearly a century since the founding of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), the government apparatus continues to adapt to the rapidly changing reality in order to solidify its rule and legitimacy. In light of vast technological developments and with the expanding economic impacts in the Chinese social structure, trust has been eroding and the traditional set of principles of values that once gave way to some of the most important social revolutions in Chinese history is being gradually replaced by normless behavior. Thus, the CCP sees itself confronted with new challenges for ensuring social governance and well-being, while guaranteeing the party’s almighty power.
This paper aims to explore to what extent the Chinese Social Credit System (SCS) might be regarded as a socially accepted programme for facilitating social governance by the Chinese Communist Party while reinforcing Chinese tradition and social trust, which might be threatened through a possible moral crisis that exacerbates in light of the expanding socio-economic modernization.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- 1. Introduction
- 2. Chinese political culture in the 21st century
- 2.1 The principle of the Mass Line
- 2.2 Social anomie as an explanation of the eroding traditional culture
- 3. The Chinese Social Credit System (SCS)
- 3.1 Primary objectives and role of the SCS in behavioral change
- 3.2 SCS as a political instrument for enhancing political obedience
- 3.3 Accomplishments of the SCS on enhancing trustworthiness among Chinese society
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This paper explores the Chinese Social Credit System (SCS), examining its role in social governance and its relationship to traditional Chinese political culture. It investigates whether the SCS can be considered a socially accepted program for facilitating governance while simultaneously reinforcing traditional values and social trust in the face of potential moral crises stemming from socio-economic modernization.
- The principle of the Mass Line in Chinese political culture and its influence on the SCS.
- The concept of social anomie and its role in understanding the erosion of traditional values.
- The primary objectives and functions of the SCS in shaping behavior and reinforcing trust.
- The SCS as a political tool for enhancing political obedience and strengthening the CCP's power.
- The accomplishments and social acceptance of the SCS in promoting trustworthiness within Chinese society.
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
1. Introduction: This introductory chapter establishes the context for understanding the Chinese Social Credit System (SCS). It highlights the CCP's ongoing adaptation to rapid social and technological change, emphasizing the erosion of trust and traditional values in the face of modernization. The chapter frames the paper's central research question: to what extent is the SCS a socially accepted program for social governance, reinforcing tradition and trust while potentially increasing political control. It also briefly reviews existing literature, highlighting the work of Tang (2016), Su et al. (2018), Creemers (2018), and Kotska (2018, Kotska/Antoine 2019) and their contributions to understanding the SCS and its context, while pointing out gaps in existing research that the present paper seeks to address.
2. Chinese political culture in the 21st century: This chapter delves into the core principles of Chinese political culture in the 21st century, crucial for understanding the SCS's implementation and impact. It examines the "Mass Line" principle, which emphasizes the importance of the masses in CCP leadership and its influence on state-building and policy-making since Mao Zedong. Further, it explores the concept of "social anomie," introduced by Durkheim, to analyze the erosion of traditional values and norms due to socio-economic modernization. The chapter connects the rise of individualism, increased social conflict, and weakened adherence to law with the moral crisis prompting the CCP's actions, setting the stage for understanding the SCS's role in addressing these challenges within the broader context of Chinese political culture and tradition.
3. The Chinese Social Credit System (SCS): This chapter provides a detailed analysis of the Chinese Social Credit System (SCS). It explores the SCS's primary objectives, particularly its role in fostering a culture of trustworthiness, moving beyond mere legal compliance to encompass economic, social, and political conduct. The chapter highlights the all-encompassing role of the state, which transcends mere legal authority to promote social morality. The close connection between morality and authority, deeply rooted in Chinese tradition, is discussed as a key driver of the SCS, linking it to the CCP's goal of constructing a virtuous society. The chapter uses the example of the 4th Plenum’s emphasis on "governing the country by virtue" (vide zhiguo) as equal to "governing the country by the law" (yifa zhiguo) to illustrate the SCS as a governance instrument for reinforcing moral standards aligned with the CCP's ideals.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
Chinese Social Credit System, Mass Line, Social Anomie, Political Culture, CCP, Trustworthiness, Social Governance, Political Obedience, Socio-economic Modernization, Repression, Legitimacy, Moral Crisis.
Frequently Asked Questions: A Comprehensive Language Preview of the Chinese Social Credit System
What is the main topic of this document?
This document provides a comprehensive overview of the Chinese Social Credit System (SCS), exploring its objectives, key themes, and relationship to traditional Chinese political culture. It analyzes the SCS's role in social governance, its impact on trustworthiness, and its connection to broader societal changes in China.
What are the key themes explored in this document?
The key themes include the principle of the Mass Line in Chinese political culture, the concept of social anomie and its relevance to the erosion of traditional values, the primary objectives and functions of the SCS, the SCS as a political tool for enhancing obedience and strengthening the CCP's power, and the social acceptance and accomplishments of the SCS in promoting trustworthiness.
What is the structure of the document?
The document is structured into an introduction, a chapter on Chinese political culture in the 21st century, a chapter focusing on the Chinese Social Credit System itself, and a conclusion. It also includes a table of contents, objectives and key themes, chapter summaries, and a list of keywords.
How does the document relate the SCS to traditional Chinese political culture?
The document analyzes the SCS within the context of traditional Chinese political culture, emphasizing the "Mass Line" principle and exploring how the SCS might be seen as a response to the erosion of traditional values caused by social anomie and rapid socio-economic modernization. It highlights the close connection between morality and authority in Chinese tradition as a key driver of the SCS.
What are the main objectives of the SCS as discussed in the document?
The document outlines the SCS's main objectives as fostering a culture of trustworthiness extending beyond mere legal compliance to encompass economic, social, and political conduct. It also highlights the SCS's role in reinforcing moral standards aligned with the CCP's ideals and strengthening the CCP's power.
What are the potential criticisms or limitations of the SCS as addressed (or implied) in the document?
While not explicitly stated as criticisms, the document acknowledges the potential for increased political control and repression inherent in the SCS. The analysis of social anomie suggests that the underlying social issues motivating the SCS may be more complex than simply a lack of trustworthiness. The document's focus on the CCP's perspective provides a view that may not fully capture other potential social implications.
What are some of the key scholarly works referenced in the document?
The document mentions the work of Tang (2016), Su et al. (2018), Creemers (2018), and Kotska (2018, Kotska/Antoine 2019) as relevant contributions to understanding the SCS and its context.
What are the key words associated with this document?
The keywords include: Chinese Social Credit System, Mass Line, Social Anomie, Political Culture, CCP, Trustworthiness, Social Governance, Political Obedience, Socio-economic Modernization, Repression, Legitimacy, Moral Crisis.
- Quote paper
- Daniela Forero Nuñez (Author), 2021, The Chinese Social Credit System, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/1134691
