Running head: History of Government in China and Infrastructure 

History of Government in China and Infrastructure

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History of Government in China and Infrastructure

Before 1900, China was entirely governed by authoritarian rule that was represented by its dynasties. Historical evidence ascertains that dynasties did not give people a democratic right to choose their leaders. When it was an empire, the values that were employed in governmence were based on Confucianism. Essentially, this refers to a distinct set of values and norms that framed the ideal behavior (Hansen, 2000). Thus every individual was expected to exercise a high degree of loyalty to the empire. The arrival of the European forces in early 1900 altered this situation and after a revolution in 1910, it led to the formation of a constitutional republic in 1912. There existed various differences between the communist and the Marxists with regard to economic policy. This according to Ebrey (1999) culminated in constant conflicts between the two factions.

The communists initiated vital reforms amongst the peasants during the civil war period. In particular, they redistributed the property of the warlords to the peasants and empowered them with vital weapons (Ebrey, 1999). This made them win the confidence of the same. Thus after they won the war in 1949 and established the republic of China, the peasants who had been liberated earlier on supported them fully. They enforced communist ideas and controlled various aspects of the people’s lives.

The Cultural Revolution took place in the 1960s and was fundamentally aimed at educating the population about communism. However, the failure of the great leap made the government to review its economic policies again and coupled with intense pressure from the public, it assumed a more liberal approach to economic production. This later led to the rise of a socialist government. Socialism was more accommodative of economic dynamism and unlike communism; Ebrey (1993) indicates that it allowed the people to participate in governance. In addition, it enhanced market reform and increased government responsiveness and liberalization. At the beginning of the twenty first century, Hansen (2000) ascertains that China had assumed modernization and was moving towards democracy.

With regard to infrastructure, China has made huge investments in the same. Irrespective of the fact that it has not attained its ideal infrastructural needs, the country can be considered to have sufficient resources to carry out the required developments. Emergent infrastructural needs are perpetuated by increasing urbanization. Since the priorities made by the central communist government are entirely influenced by economic development guidelines, current projects are under a five year plan. Significant investments according to emergent researches have been made in the train, aviation, and water way and roadway networks. Notably, this would enhance the country’s global economic competitiveness.

The government of China is comprised of three branches that include the executive, legislature and judiciary. The president, who is also perceived the chief of the State, heads the executive. Together with the vice president, they are entirely elected by the National People’s Congress (NPC) that makes up the legislature branch. The NPC constitutes a unicameral legislative body that is elected by the citizens (Hansen, 2000). The judicial branch on the other hand is made up of a special people’s court, local people’s court and a supreme people’s court.

References

Ebrey, P. (1993). Chinese Civilization. USA: Free Press.

Ebrey, P. (1999). History of China. Cambridge: University Press.

Hansen, V. (2000). The Open Empire. USA: Norton.