From Mao to now: David Shambaugh compares and contrasts China’s leaders
- What are the similarities and differences between Xi Jinping and Mao Zedong? Was Deng Xiaoping the People’s Republic’s greatest leader?
- Political science professor Shambaugh gives his perspective
China has had five major leaders since the founding of the People’s Republic, each of them distinctive and each with their own path to power.
Some China watchers have compared President Xi Jinping with Mao Zedong, highlighting Xi’s authority and Mao’s popularity in China today. Is Xi following in Mao’s footsteps to rule China as an autocrat?
Shambaugh: All Chinese leaders are authoritarian autocrats, but some more than others. Some are totalitarian despots. Of the five leaders I study in this book, Mao and Xi are definitely the most authoritarian and totalitarian.
There are many similarities between Mao and Xi – notably the sycophantic cult of personality and their “thought” that must be studied by everyone. But there are big differences too: Mao despised institutions of the government and [Communist] Party and attacked – and almost destroyed – the party during the Cultural Revolution – while Xi believes in strong institutions and rules through them. Mao also sought to attack traditional Chinese culture, whereas Xi values and venerates the past and traditional culture. Mao paid no attention to laws – Xi uses them as an instrument of rule.
Why, after decades of decentralisation of rule following Deng, China is now back to a dictatorial political system reminiscent of the Mao era, is both something of a mystery and a sad commentary.
