ChinaTalk Bo Xilai and How Xi Learned from the Chongqing Model
Apr 14, 2021
Yueran Zhang, a sociology PhD student at UC Berkeley, dives into the fascinating legacy of the Chongqing Model under Bo Xilai. They discuss how Bo leveraged mass mobilization to challenge enemies and the implications for Xi Jinping’s governance. The conversation also highlights the 2018 Jasic protests, showcasing a resurging labor movement influenced by young Marxists. Zhang critiques the contrasting strategies of wealth redistribution in Chongqing versus the technocratic approach in Shanghai, offering rich insights into China's evolving political landscape.
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Xi's Adoption of the Chongqing Model
- Xi Jinping's governing style post-2012 incorporated elements of Bo Xilai's Chongqing model.
- Bo's model used mass mobilization and popular support to challenge established political norms.
Bo Xilai's Rise to Prominence
- Bo Xilai, a "red princeling," gained national attention as Dalian's mayor and later as Minister of Commerce.
- His transformative political practices in Chongqing, known as the "Chongqing Model," caused significant political shockwaves.
Interpreting the Chongqing Model
- Classical liberal narratives saw the Chongqing model as an expansion of state coercion.
- Left-wing narratives focused on its wealth redistribution efforts, but both views were incomplete.