China's Communist Party: From Revolution to Rejuvenation

The Communist Party of China, ruling for 75 years since 1949, remains firmly in control despite decades of turmoil and transformation. Under Xi Jinping, the party is focusing on the nation's 'rejuvenation' by 2049 amidst slower growth and heightened U.S. competition, with an emphasis on Marxist ideologies.

For over three decades post-Soviet Union collapse, the Communist Party of China (CPC) retains an unyielding grip on power, leading a nation comprising nearly 20% of the global population.

Surpassing the Soviet era's 74 years, the party celebrated its 75-year milestone this year. What started with tumultuous self-imposed challenges in 1949 metamorphosed in 1978, transforming China into an industrial superpower second only to the United States.

Looking towards its centennial in 2049, the CPC aims to herald a 'rejuvenated' nation, banking on effective management during an era marked by economic deceleration and intensified rivalry with the U.S., stirring fears of a potential new cold war.

The initial 25 years of communist reign saw upheavals under Mao Zedong, whose leadership in the Hundred Flowers Campaign and the Great Leap Forward led to intellectual persecution and a catastrophic famine.

Economic reforms post-Mao's death in 1976 propelled China into an economic behemoth, defying Cold War era expectations linking communism with planned economies and democracy with free markets. The 1989 Tiananmen Square protests reinforced the CPC's stance on economic versus political liberalization.

Under Xi Jinping, the CPC revives Marxism, reinforcing the party's central role and tightening economic control, causing apprehension among workers, entrepreneurs, and foreign investors about restrictive market dynamics.

Daniel Bell from the University of Hong Kong suggests China's economic trajectory aligns with Marxist principles, temporarily embracing capitalism en route to communism. Experts believe the CPC is determined to not replicate the Soviet Union's collapse but must navigate new challenges such as an aging population and escalations with the U.S.

(With inputs from agencies.)