王侯将相宁有种乎？有！｜农业发展银行｜当行长｜继承家产｜家族势力｜中县干部｜世袭制｜习近平｜薄熙来｜王局拍案20240408

Summary

This transcript delves into the hereditary nature of power in China, where political influence often passes through family ties rather than democratic elections. It highlights the absence of transparent systems in the CCP's power structure, emphasizing how political families hold significant advantages due to resources, education, and connections. The speaker compares this to historical dynastic transitions and argues that this system limits social mobility, perpetuating class divisions. Despite appearances of modernity, the political system remains autocratic, with covert power transfers. The speaker suggests that even with public awareness, the system is unlikely to change.

Takeaways

• 😀 Hereditary power is a prevalent feature of China's political system, manifesting in both explicit and implicit forms.
• 😀 In China, power is not determined by elections but by the Chinese Communist Party's internal selection processes, which lack transparency and openness.
• 😀 The inability to break the cycle of hereditary power is a result of the absence of democratic elections, leading to entrenched political families.
• 😀 Political families benefit from resources and education, which help their children secure high-ranking positions in government or banks.
• 😀 In North Korea, while the constitution does not mandate hereditary power, the Kim family's succession clearly demonstrates a multi-generational transfer of political control.
• 😀 The selection of officials in China often happens through opaque backroom deals among a few key individuals, contributing to the perpetuation of political families.
• 😀 The lack of open elections in China means power is passed down through implicit channels, reinforcing the legacy of political families over time.
• 😀 Family connections play a pivotal role in career advancement, as shown by the child aspiring to become the president of a bank like his parents and grandparents.
• 😀 Even when no overt corruption exists, the hereditary transfer of power in China's grassroots society solidifies social classes and limits upward mobility for ordinary people.
• 😀 The current political system in China mirrors historical dynasties, where power and wealth were often concentrated in certain families, preventing a truly modern democratic society from emerging.

Q & A

Why is hereditary power so prevalent in China according to the transcript?

Hereditary power is prevalent because China lacks an open, democratic election system. Power transitions are determined by internal, opaque processes within the CCP, which naturally leads to the perpetuation of power within specific families and networks.

How does the system of power selection in China differ from a modern democratic system?

In a modern democratic system, power is typically transferred through open elections, allowing for a more equitable distribution of power. In contrast, China's system relies on backroom deals and the CCP's internal power mechanisms, which do not facilitate open and transparent elections.

What is meant by 'explicit' and 'implicit' hereditary power?

'Explicit' hereditary power refers to a clear, lineage-based succession, like the ancient imperial system where the emperor's son inherits the throne. 'Implicit' hereditary power, on the other hand, refers to more subtle transfers of power through family connections and networks, such as in the modern autocratic system.

What example does the transcript provide to illustrate implicit hereditary power?

The example of North Korea is used to illustrate implicit hereditary power. Despite the constitution not explicitly stating that power is hereditary, the succession from Kim Il-sung to Kim Jong-il to Kim Jong-un, and now potentially to his daughter or sister, demonstrates how power is passed down within a single family.

What role does education play in perpetuating hereditary power in China?

Education plays a critical role in perpetuating hereditary power by providing children from political families with a superior education, which gives them an advantage in the competition for power. These families can afford to send their children to prestigious schools, ensuring they have better opportunities than those from poorer backgrounds.

How do relationships factor into the power selection process in China?

Relationships are a key factor in the power selection process. The transcript highlights that 'relationships are most important' for promotion, and individuals without strong connections are often unable to advance, regardless of their abilities or age.

What is the significance of the child in the video wanting to follow in their parents' footsteps?

The child's desire to become the president of a bank, like their parents, demonstrates the hereditary nature of power in China. It reflects how children from powerful families are more likely to inherit positions of power due to family connections, regardless of their personal merits or abilities.

What is the difference between corruption and hereditary power as discussed in the transcript?

While corruption involves illegal or unethical practices, hereditary power is not necessarily corrupt but is instead a result of the system's inherent structure, where power is passed down through family connections. It is more subtle and deeply embedded in the political and economic system.

What does the transcript mean by 'solidification of classes'?

The 'solidification of classes' refers to the lack of upward mobility in society. In a system where power and wealth are inherited, individuals from lower classes have limited opportunities to change their social or economic status, while those from privileged backgrounds can maintain their positions of power.

How does the transcript compare China's political system to the historical Chinese dynastic cycles?

The transcript compares China's current political system to the historical dynastic cycles, where power was transferred within a narrow elite, leading to stagnation and eventual collapse. The argument is that despite China's modern state structures, the system still perpetuates power within a select few, much like the old dynasties.