ABSTRACT
Entering into the present century, the CCP knew that the once-heralded image of the CCP as a war victor and people’s savior had become a thing of the past. New justifications for its dominance as the ruling party have to be its leadership ability for China’s economic growth. To that end, the CCP has opted to abandon the theory of class struggle, to adopt a market economy, and to amend the constitution to allow the protection of private properties by the State apparatus, all of which are contrary to Marxism. Based on the calling of the then sitting CCP Chairman Jiang Zemin, the CCP changed the basic composition of its membership from mostly uneducated or under-educated workers and peasants to include the educated, the technocrats, the highly skilled and paid corporate CEOs, even the capitalists – owners of private sector businesses. These and other transformations have led to many intraparty fractions. But instead of copying Mao’s iron-fist policy, the 21st-century CCP tries to open up candid dialogues in Party schools or at regular grassroot Party meetings. Presently, these fractions, divided along the line of conservatives and reformists, continue to co-exist in the CCP.
