AP Notes, Outlines, Study Guides, Vocabulary, Practice Exams and more!

AP Comparative China Terms Flashcards

Terms : Hide Images
9525585468Autonomous regionsAreas that have limited self-government within a sovereign country; used especially of areas in China where ethnic minorities have been granted some autonomy0
9525585469CCPChinese communist party. Founded in 1921 and came to power in 1949. It is the ruling party for the people's republic of China.1
9525585470Central CommitteeSupposedly the most important body in a communist party; its influence declined as it grew in size and the party needed daily leadership.2
9525585471ConfucianismA philosophy of ethics, education, and public service based on the writings of Confucius and traditionally thought of as one of the core elements of Chinese culture3
9525585472Cult of PersonalityPromotion of the image of an authoritarian leader not merely as a political figure but as someone who embodies the spirit of the nation and possesses endowments of wisdom and strength far beyond those of the average individual.4
9525585473Cultural Revolution(1966-1976) Political policy in started in China by Mao Zedong to eliminate his rivals and train a new generation in the revolutionary spirit that created communist China. The Cultural Revolution resulted in beatings, terror, mass jailings, and the deaths of thousands.5
9525585474DanweiThe basic means of social organization and a major means of political control in China's communist party-state; all Chinese citizens have a lifetime affiliation with a specific area based on their job that dictated all aspects of their lives, including housing, health care, and other social benefits.6
9525585475Decentralizationthe spread of power away from the national government to local branches or governments7
9525585476Democratic centralisma form of democracy in which the interests of the masses were discovered through discussion within the Communist party, and then decisions were made under central leadership to serve those interests; rule by a few for the good of the many8
9525585477Dynastic cyclesthe circle of change the Chinese dynasties went through; establishing power, successful rule, decline, collapse, rise of a new dynasty9
9525585478Floating populationChina's 150 million moving peasants who left the countryside to find urban employment10
9525585479Four ModernizationsA set of goals adopted by the Chinese Deng Xiaoping in the late 20th century, involving progress in agriculture, industry, defense, and science and technology. Unlike the Great Leap Forward, the Four Modernizations was an economic success.11
9525585480Great Leap ForwardChina's second five-year plan under the leadership of Mao, it aimed to speed up economic development while simultaneously developing a completely socialist society. This plan failed and more than 20 million people starved between 1958 and 1960.12
9525585481Guanxia Chinese term meaning "connections" or "relationships" and describes personal ties between individuals based on such things as common birthplace or mutual acquaintances; important factor in China's political and economic life; a form of patron-client relationship in China.13
9525585482HukouA Chinese term that means "household residency permit" and refers to the system in which all citizens of the People's Republic of China must have an official card that allows them to live, work, and receive benefits only in a specific location. The hukou system was used as a means of social control, political surveillance, and internal migration restrictions. The hukou system has not been vigorously enforced since China has moved toward a market economy and the need for labor mobility.14
9525585483Hundred Flowers MovementRefers to a period in 1956-57 when Chinese Communist Party Chairman Mao Zedong encouraged citizens, particularly intellectuals, to speak out ("Let a hundred flowers bloom, let a hundred schools of thought contend!") and give their views on how to improve China's government. Mao was shocked by the depth of the criticism of communist rule and cracked down by silencing and punishing the critics by launching the Anti-Rightist Campaign.15
9525585484"Iron Rice Bowl"a feature of China's socialist economy that provided guarantees of lifetime employment, income, and basic cradle-to-grave benefits to most urban and rural workers16
9525585485Long MarchThe 6,000-mile flight of Chinese Communists from southeastern to northwestern China. The Communists, led by Mao Zedong, were pursued by the Chinese army under orders from Chiang Kai-shek.17
9525585486Mandate of HeavenA political theory of ancient China in which those in power were given the right to rule from a divine source - similar to divine right concept in Europe18
9525585487National Party Congresslegislative body of the CCP of over 2,000 delegates chosen primarily from congresses on lower levels; meets every 5 years to rubberstamp decisions by party leaders; main power: elect members of the Central Committee19
9525585488One child policyAct in China that allows people to have only 1 child in the city and 2 children in the countryside created in 1979; program established by the Chinese Government to slow population growth in China20
9525585489PlenumsMeetings of Central Committee; occurs annually and is about a week long; gathering of political elites; members of politburo and standing committee chosen during this21
9525585490Politburo & Standing Committeeat the very top of the CCP; chosen by the Central Committee to dictate government policies22
9525585491Political elitesleaders who have a disproportionate share of policy-making power, democracies often still have them despite their competitive elections23
9525585492Special Economic ZonesIn 1979, the Chinese government set up these zones on the coast near Macao, Hong Kong and Taiwan. Improved transportation, lower taxes, and other incentives attracted investments from foreign businesses. They helped stimulate innovation and helped China grow economically.24
9525585493Standing Committeea committee consisting of the top leadership of the Communist Party of China that meets regularly to govern the country; seven members that are chosen from the Politburo25
9525585494Taiwana government on the island of Taiwan established in 1949 by Chiang Kai-shek after the conquest of mainland China by the communists led by Mao Zedong; today is an autonomous region of China26
9525585495Technocratshighly-educated bureaucrats who make decisions based on their perceptions of technical issues rather than political ones27
9525585496Tiananmen SquareSite in Beijing where Chinese students and workers gathered to demand greater political openness in 1989. The demonstration was crushed by Chinese military with great loss of life.28
9525585499China29
9525585500Laos30
9525585501Philippines31
9525585502North Korea32
9525585503Thailand33
9525585504Cambodia34
9525585505Japan35
9525585506Taiwan36
9525585507Vietnam37
9525585508Indonesia38
9525585497mass lineThe obligation of leaders to listen to and communicate with ordinary folks in the PRC39

Need Help?

We hope your visit has been a productive one. If you're having any problems, or would like to give some feedback, we'd love to hear from you.

For general help, questions, and suggestions, try our dedicated support forums.

If you need to contact the Course-Notes.Org web experience team, please use our contact form.

Need Notes?

While we strive to provide the most comprehensive notes for as many high school textbooks as possible, there are certainly going to be some that we miss. Drop us a note and let us know which textbooks you need. Be sure to include which edition of the textbook you are using! If we see enough demand, we'll do whatever we can to get those notes up on the site for you!