Managing Rights Talk in the "Harmonious Society"

Abstract

In 2004 the Hu Jintao-Wen Jiabao regime introduced the objectiveof establishing a "harmonious society" (hexie shehui) as the overallguidance for Communist Party rule. As suggested by Hu Jintao:"A harmonious society will feature democracy, the rule of law, equity, justice, sincerity, amity and vitality. Such a society will give full scope to people's talent and creativity, enable all the people to share the social wealth brought by reform and development, and forge an ever closer relationship between the people and government. These things will result in lasting stability and unity."While there are ample grounds for cynicism about such CCP slogans, "harmonious society" can be taken as an effort to signal atleast some sense of the regime's programmatic priorities. It suggestsa difference of emphasis from the preceding Jiang regime, with its"Three Represents" slogan, according to which "the Party must always represent the requirements of the development of China's advanced productive forces, the orientation of the development of China's advanced culture, and the fundamental interests of the overwhelming majority of the people in China".