> emphasizing advantageous parts of history are not communist inventions. In China, this has been a very old tradition.
OT: Having read much Chinese history (though I'm by no means an expert), I've noticed the Communists recently have taken on many other characteristics of the old imperial dynasties that ruled China through 1911.
* The pretense of natural superiority to other nations, and of the others' natural submission. The Chinese nationalists publicly claim about their superiority, and you can read stories about Chinese diplomacy actively pushing this position behind the scenes. I read stories about it happening in SE Asia [1] and recently the press got hold of Queen Elizabeth's complaints about it during President Xi's visit to the UK.[2] She should have read (if she hasn't) Emporer Qianlong's famous letter to her predecessor, King George III, in the early 19th century, calling the UK inferior barbarians who had nothing of value to offer China.
* Territorial claims, including those outside of their current boundries very similar to the Qing dynasty (the last dynasty, 1644-1911). China's territory has varied greatly over the centuries.
* The attempt to adopt the economic and military power of the West, without adopting the political (democracy, individual rights, rule of law) and intellectual (intellectual freedom) necessary to them. This is what the 'Self-Strengthening Movements' in the late 19th century tried to different degrees. All failed: For example, it's hard to have an advanced economy without an educated population, and it's hard to have an educated population without intellectual freedom.
* The primacy of corruption and the fight against it. A well-known pattern of Chinese history is that, after a dynasty was established, corruption would grow and eventually bring it down.[3]
* The emphasis on the rule of one person, Xi Jinping, in some way similar to an emperor (though also similar to Mao's cult of personality).
----
[1] [An ASEAN foriegn minister] told me that the Chinese Ambassador to his country had forced him to shift an ASEAN leader attending a Summit out of a hotel ... so that then-Premier Wen Jiabao could stay there. The Ambassador insisted on this although the hotel allocated to Premier Wen was of equal quality. ... Every ASEAN diplomat who has dealt with China has a fund of such anecdotes. ... China does not merely want consideration of its interests. China expects deference to its interests to be internalised by ASEAN members as a mode of thought; as not just a correct calculation of ASEAN interests vis-a-vis China but "correct thinking" which leads to "correct behaviour". Foreign policy calculations are subject to continual revision; correct thinking is a permanent part of the sub-conscious. - Bilahari Kausikan, former Permanent Secretary of Sinapore's Ministry of Foreign Affairs - http://www.todayonline.com/world/bilahari-speech-us-china
OT: Having read much Chinese history (though I'm by no means an expert), I've noticed the Communists recently have taken on many other characteristics of the old imperial dynasties that ruled China through 1911.
* The pretense of natural superiority to other nations, and of the others' natural submission. The Chinese nationalists publicly claim about their superiority, and you can read stories about Chinese diplomacy actively pushing this position behind the scenes. I read stories about it happening in SE Asia [1] and recently the press got hold of Queen Elizabeth's complaints about it during President Xi's visit to the UK.[2] She should have read (if she hasn't) Emporer Qianlong's famous letter to her predecessor, King George III, in the early 19th century, calling the UK inferior barbarians who had nothing of value to offer China.
* Territorial claims, including those outside of their current boundries very similar to the Qing dynasty (the last dynasty, 1644-1911). China's territory has varied greatly over the centuries.
* The attempt to adopt the economic and military power of the West, without adopting the political (democracy, individual rights, rule of law) and intellectual (intellectual freedom) necessary to them. This is what the 'Self-Strengthening Movements' in the late 19th century tried to different degrees. All failed: For example, it's hard to have an advanced economy without an educated population, and it's hard to have an educated population without intellectual freedom.
* The primacy of corruption and the fight against it. A well-known pattern of Chinese history is that, after a dynasty was established, corruption would grow and eventually bring it down.[3]
* The emphasis on the rule of one person, Xi Jinping, in some way similar to an emperor (though also similar to Mao's cult of personality).
----
[1] [An ASEAN foriegn minister] told me that the Chinese Ambassador to his country had forced him to shift an ASEAN leader attending a Summit out of a hotel ... so that then-Premier Wen Jiabao could stay there. The Ambassador insisted on this although the hotel allocated to Premier Wen was of equal quality. ... Every ASEAN diplomat who has dealt with China has a fund of such anecdotes. ... China does not merely want consideration of its interests. China expects deference to its interests to be internalised by ASEAN members as a mode of thought; as not just a correct calculation of ASEAN interests vis-a-vis China but "correct thinking" which leads to "correct behaviour". Foreign policy calculations are subject to continual revision; correct thinking is a permanent part of the sub-conscious. - Bilahari Kausikan, former Permanent Secretary of Sinapore's Ministry of Foreign Affairs - http://www.todayonline.com/world/bilahari-speech-us-china
[2] http://www.cnn.com/2016/05/11/europe/queen-uk-china-very-rud...
[3] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dynastic_cycle