| Over four decades since the reform and opening up,tremendous changes have taken place in China.For instance,the national construction mode has been shifted from the planned economy to the market economy,the Communist Party of China(CPC)has become the ruling party from the revolutionary party,and the socialism is developed from the Soviet model into the one with Chinese characteristics.These changes have increased demands on the CPC.In addition,the growing market economy also differentiates the social strata and diversifies the pattern of interests;the existing distribution mode cannot guarantee fairness and justice;rent-seeking behaviors widen the gap between rich and poor;the masses have higher self-awareness and awareness of protecting their own rights;the channels for the expression of interests are relatively blocked.Such problems have posed challenges to the CPC.The improper handling of these problems may threaten the long-term ruling of the CPC.Starting from the interest issue,the author,through combining the history of Party-masses relationship,analyzes the problems of Party-masses relationship since the reform and opening up,and finally puts forth some suggestions for building the harmonious Party-masses relationship.This paper is composed of three parts:Introduction,Main Body,and Conclusions.The Introduction part reviews researches of domestic and foreign scholars on Party-masses relationship,summarizes the research perspectives and shortcomings,and proposes the significance,methods and innovations of the study.Chapter One introduces basic concepts and relevant theories.For Western scholars decades years ago,masses were derogatory in nature and would inevitably lead to Fascism-like tyranny;Marxist writers elaborate masses from historical materialism;the definition of the CPC on masses also evolves with the new social and historical environment.This chapter also expounds concepts and types of political parties,and the definition and features of Party-masses relationship.Chapter Two reviews the history of Party-masses relationship through combining history with theories.During the revolutionary war years,the CPC seized the state power through relying on the broad masses.At that time,the leaders of the CPC mainly guided the masses to seek and protect their interests.During the era from the founding of the new China to the reform and opening up,the masses relied more on the CPC due to household registration system and other management means.The mass theory of the CPC at that time focused on improving Party’s style of work and opposing privileges to prevent leading officials from divorcing from the masses and maintain close engagement with the masses.The disaster “Great Cultural Revolution”destroyed the Party-masses relationship,but the CPC repaired and improved the relationship after the “Great Cultural Revolution”.Chapter Three mainly analyzes the changing environment of the Party-masses relationship in the new era.Since the reform and opening up,the three shifts,from the planned economy to the market economy,from the revolutionary party to the rulingparty,and from Soviet model to the socialism with Chinese characteristics,have increased demands on the CPC.The growing market economy differentiates the social strata,diversifies the pattern of interests,and causes imbalanced distribution,rent-seeking behavior,belief crisis,globalized and informationalized environment,thus posing challenges for the CPC.Chapter Four analyzes the problems of the Party-masses relationship in the new era.First,some shortcomings exist in the building of the CPC itself in theory,conduct,institution and grassroots Party organizations.Secondly,imperfect interest coordination mechanisms in expression,decision-making,distribution of the masses’ interests,and imperfect interest supervision mechanisms.Thirdly,emerge of non-governmental organizations(NGOs).With the weakening capability of the traditional people’s organizations within the system in connecting with the masses,a large number of NGOs emerge,which is a challenge to the CPC.Chapter Five proposes some strategies and suggestions for building the harmonious Party-masses relationship.First,improve the interest integration mechanism on the basis of social development,which constitutes the foundation of building the harmonious Party-masses relationship.While addressing issues of public concern,the government should provide sufficient unblocked channels for the masses to voice their opinions on issues of their concern;while making relevant policies and regulations,the government should solicit opinions from the interested groups,especially the masses;improve interest coordination mechanism,and allocate more interests to the less-developed regions and disadvantaged groups.Second,improve the Party’s work style,build a clean government and fight corruption to attain people’s trust,which is the prerequisite for building the harmonious Party-masses relationship.We should improve the Party’s style of work,and educate the whole Party with Marxist viewpoint on the people.The officials of the CPC should serve the people wholeheartedly and struggle for the interests of the people.We should tighten and institutionalize the anti-corruption,and strengthen the social supervision.Finally,we should establish the new mechanism of Party-masses interaction.As the development of NGOs is the inevitable trend,we should transform the outdated thinking,positively promote and guide the development of NGOs,and give full play to their roles in social mobilization and governance.As China has the largest netizens in the world,we should develop the new media and use them to strengthen the Party-masses relationship. |
