Chinese party cells spread in private sector
Tuesday, 24 July 2007
Mure Dickie from Beijing
NEARLY 3.0m members of China's ruling Communist party work for private companies, after a four-year drive to tighten ties with the fast-growing sector.
The push by the world's largest political organisation has resulted in 80 per cent more party organisations in non-state enterprises, state media said recently.
In 2002 there were 99,000 Communist cells operating in private business; at the end of last year there were 178,000.
Efforts to co-opt social groups and economic elites have extended the party far beyond its original rural and proletarian constituencies.
Recruiting members from the private sector allows the party both to expand influence in the corporate world and to ensure that business interests have a voice in China's ruling club.
"Non-state enterprises are becoming the new mustering place for members of the Chinese Communist party," the official Chinese news agency said.
"The increase to 3.0m members at non-state companies will grant the CCP a new fountain-head for continued development."
Total membership rose to 72.39m at the end of last year, and there is little chance of the party and its authoritarian leaders falling under the thrall of private bosses or employees.
Bureaucrats and state enterprise managers have an ever louder voice in party deliberations.
The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) presence in 94 per cent of private companies that employ three or more members gives it a direct link to vibrant areas of the economy.
The party has also been seeking a more visible presence in foreign-owned businesses.
Last year it established a cell in the local arm of Wal-Mart, a citadel of US-style capitalism.
Private sector workers find few ideological inconveniences in party membership.
The CCP has dropped almost all aspects of communism though it retains an affection for Marxist rhetoric and is committed to its monopoly on political power.
The drive was launched at the party's 16th congress in 2002.
Jiang Zemin, who was party chief and Chinese president at the time, told delegates the CCP must welcome "advanced elements" from all social strata to increase its "rallying force".
Hu Jintao, Mr Jiang's successor, has played down the party's association with business elites and stressed solidarity with disadvantaged sectors of society.
But the CCP remains keen to enhance its presence in free-wheeling areas, such as the entrepreneurial south-western city of Wenzhou.
More than 3,400 party organisations have been set up in Wenzhou, covering 15,000 private companies, according to the China Daily.
"Party leaders sometimes join the firms' executive boards to discuss development strategies," the newspaper said.
The party has called on branches to ensure that members from the private sector are among delegates to its 17th party congress this year.
FT Syndication Service
NEARLY 3.0m members of China's ruling Communist party work for private companies, after a four-year drive to tighten ties with the fast-growing sector.
The push by the world's largest political organisation has resulted in 80 per cent more party organisations in non-state enterprises, state media said recently.
In 2002 there were 99,000 Communist cells operating in private business; at the end of last year there were 178,000.
Efforts to co-opt social groups and economic elites have extended the party far beyond its original rural and proletarian constituencies.
Recruiting members from the private sector allows the party both to expand influence in the corporate world and to ensure that business interests have a voice in China's ruling club.
"Non-state enterprises are becoming the new mustering place for members of the Chinese Communist party," the official Chinese news agency said.
"The increase to 3.0m members at non-state companies will grant the CCP a new fountain-head for continued development."
Total membership rose to 72.39m at the end of last year, and there is little chance of the party and its authoritarian leaders falling under the thrall of private bosses or employees.
Bureaucrats and state enterprise managers have an ever louder voice in party deliberations.
The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) presence in 94 per cent of private companies that employ three or more members gives it a direct link to vibrant areas of the economy.
The party has also been seeking a more visible presence in foreign-owned businesses.
Last year it established a cell in the local arm of Wal-Mart, a citadel of US-style capitalism.
Private sector workers find few ideological inconveniences in party membership.
The CCP has dropped almost all aspects of communism though it retains an affection for Marxist rhetoric and is committed to its monopoly on political power.
The drive was launched at the party's 16th congress in 2002.
Jiang Zemin, who was party chief and Chinese president at the time, told delegates the CCP must welcome "advanced elements" from all social strata to increase its "rallying force".
Hu Jintao, Mr Jiang's successor, has played down the party's association with business elites and stressed solidarity with disadvantaged sectors of society.
But the CCP remains keen to enhance its presence in free-wheeling areas, such as the entrepreneurial south-western city of Wenzhou.
More than 3,400 party organisations have been set up in Wenzhou, covering 15,000 private companies, according to the China Daily.
"Party leaders sometimes join the firms' executive boards to discuss development strategies," the newspaper said.
The party has called on branches to ensure that members from the private sector are among delegates to its 17th party congress this year.
FT Syndication Service