Leader of the Year?*

Quite a few changes are about to take place in the coming few weeks- namely the handover of the top position in 2 of the (arguably) most powerful nations today: Ukraine and Palau.

Or was it USA and China? Your pick, really.

In a two-part segment, we (I) explore who takes over these superpowers, what real changes we can expect to see, and things that will most probably not change. I might throw in some Bollywood commentary here and there if I feel up to it.

Before I begin, I know neither of us has posted for a month now. I have no excuse for this shameful lack of dedication except the Extended Essay (did mine on the Pakistani military!), UN Night, World Literature, math portfolio (just kidding- I haven’t done one since last November) and the fact that apparently Chap goes gallivanting off to Cambodia without letting me know (he’s been there for the last one week- how this escaped my notice is literally beyond me). Point being, I apologize thoroughly and whole-heartedly and would like to offer a video of us dancing to Nakka Mukka as compensation.

Now, let’s get down to business (TO DEFEAT THE HUNS!!). I spent the entire morning doing my scumbag (used in the nicest way possible) Asian history teacher’s holiday homework (I think he’s brilliant but slightly off-centered when it comes to his idea of a good holiday break) and in the process assessed what the most important factor in the Communist victory in the civil war was when I realized there were better things to do with my life like assess what the hell Xi Jinping can do as “THE NEXT LEADER OF THE UNFREE WORLD” (as dramatically proclaimed by this week’s TIME magazine cover). Here it goes-

The Chinese Communist Party has set the date for the 18^th National Congress to take place on 8^th November (in exactly 3 weeks actually!) and the most significant handover of power will take place here- Xi Jinping (current Vice President) is expected to take over from Hu Jintao. He will be sworn in as the Party’s General Secretary (formerly known as Party Chairman- read: Mao Zedong), which is the de facto leader of the country- kind of like the Indian Prime Minister but obviously far, far more efficient. Or maybe that’s just Communism at work, what do I know, I’m just a capitalist. There’s an interesting debate though- communism versus capitalism. And I don’t mean the Cold War type of debate- I mean taking into consideration the basic “rights” that we seem to demand today (freedom of speech, expression?) combined with what we consider our “rights” anyway (right to have a job, right to work, right to earn money freely?) we are faced with complications that no system seems to get right completely**.

Anyway, the Chinese decided since the post of President was only nominal and had no real power they did the smart thing and combined the post of General Secretary and President (not officially, but it is the convention) and so on November 8^th Xi Jinping will be seated at the head of the country with the biggest population and one of the fastest (or is it the fastest?) growing economy on this planet. China is richer than it was when Hu Jintao took power, but not necessarily a much better to place to live in since then. The state media is still heavily censored, the Internet search engines are switched on and off at the mercy of the government, and now more than ever (thanks to the pressure that the Arab Spring imposed on the leaders) the political leaders are very, very worried. Nevertheless, the Chinese are taking to the streets despite the threat of prosecution and the desire for change grows, as it will in any society with this much room for improvement (Machiavelli is relevant once again!). Despite such quick economic growth and development, “political change” still remains somewhat of a taboo word in the upper ranks, ensuring that China will be able to change its clothes but not its soul***.

There is little hope that Xi will make much change- it isn’t even clear if he wants to make much change. He is the son of one of the Communist guerrilla movement founders who subsequently got purged and jailed during the Cultural Revolution. With so much turmoil thanks to ‘change’ back then, it’s pretty clear why he isn’t the biggest fan of bringing about change right now (or maybe this is just me psychoanalyzing absolutely nothing). However, this won’t work for much longer. China’s stupendous growth can no longer be counted upon to propel the country forward- political turmoil will grow (at whatever rate that may be). We saw it with the Qings, the Nationalists and again with the Communists, and we’ll see it again. No matter how iron-fisted a regime seems, the more authoritarian a state becomes, the less stable it becomes. Especially in this day and age where the word “uprising” has become the in-thing to stage, China’s not going to be left behind for much longer. It would be naïve to expect a full-scale revolution or a May 4^th Movement of sorts, but the political foundation has cracks appearing- not because of actual government weakness but because of citizens’ strength. Xi won’t be enjoying as much power as his predecessor (who didn’t enjoy as much power as his own predecessor, etc.) but it is doubtful as to even if he did, what he would have done with it.

Xi’s Wikipedia page is surprisingly short (especially when compared to Mitt Romney’s page), which isn’t all that surprising. Let’s hope by the end of his term it’ll be added to significantly (and not just negatively).  

In other, possibly as interesting news, Karan Johar’s Student of the Year comes out tomorrow! I'm literally giddy with excitement, I ADORE Karan Johar. If only Xi would run the country the way KJo directed his movies- not much would change actually, 85% of the population would still hate it.

-Lassie

*an attempt to make a pun on KJo's "Student of the Year"

**PUN ON THE WORD RIGHT!

***got this from an IB past paper referring to Tokugawa Japan- score!