| Abstract | Kina je do 1911. g. bila pod upravom dinastije Qing. Ekonomska politika naginjala je kapitalizmu, ali uz znatne povlastice dane strancima (Japancima, Francuzima, Britancima, Rusima itd.) zbog izrazito slabe međunarodne pozicije Kine. Neprestano slabljenje kineske moći od Mira u Nanjingu 1842. g. (kraj Prvog opijumskog rata) i nazadnost njihove vojne tehnologije značilo je samo jedno: narod će dinastiju eventualno istjerati zbog neuspješnih reformi i nedovoljne volje za modernizacijom i istjerivanjem stranih utjecaja.
Pokušaj zbacivanja dinastije Qing dogodio se više puta, ali 1911. g. Xinhai revolucijom dinastiji je zadan konačni udarac. Period nestabilnosti i građanskog rata trajao je sve do 1928. g. kada prva kineska politička stranka (Kuomintang), vođena Čang-Kaj Šekom ujedinjuje Kinu i stvara centralnu vlast. Nakon prepiranja s Komunističkom strankom Kine, s kojom je Kuomintang bio u koaliciji dolazi do čistki komunista i Kineskog građanskog rata. KPK 1949. g. uspješno zauzima vlast i proglašava Narodnu Republiku Kinu. Kuomintang bježi na Tajvan (priznat kao legitimna Kina do 1971. g.). Mao-Ce Tung, vođa KPK želi reformirati kinesku ekonomiju kako bi bila bliže komunističkim idealima, provodi agrarnu reformu i kolektivizaciju. Komunističke reforme doživjele su vrhunac u Velikom koraku naprijed krajem pedesetih godina koje su zbog slabe koordinacije i loše isplaniranosti rezultirale smrću čak 5 % kineskog stanovništva.
Nakon daljnjih radikalnih Maovih ideja i raznih političkih progona koji su ostavili za sobom mnoge mrtve nastaje snažna želja u partiji za političkom i ekonomskom liberalizacijom. Nakon Maove smrti 1976. g. to postaje moguće. 1978. g. provode se prve kapitalističke reforme u kojima je seljacima, a kasnije i tvrtkama, dopušteno da zadrže dio proizvoda kojeg mogu prodati po kapitalističkim principima. Uslijedile su dodatne reforme osamdesetih koje su povećale autonomiju direktora tvrtki, a devedesetih je provedena sustavna privatizacija raznih industrija koja traje i do danas. Kao posljedica ovih reformi, Kina je doživjela velik uzlet u svojoj gospodarskoj i političkoj moći i danas je postala supersila, jedna od rijetkih koja se može pohvaliti da u svijetu konkurira SAD-u. Povećanje stranih investicija, trgovine, životnog standarda samo su neke od posljedica kineske gospodarske liberalizacije. Pokušaj ostvarivanja što veće uključenosti u svjetsku trgovinu najvidljiviji je u nedavno započetoj incijativi Pojas i put koja nastoji gospodarski integrirati cijeli svijet. |
| Abstract (english) | Until 1911 Qing dynasty ruled over China. The economic policy during this time was somewhat capitalistic, but because of weak Chinese international position many economic privileges have been given to foreign powers (United Kingdom, Russian Empire, the Japanese, the French...). Constant weakening of the Chinese state since the Treaty of Nanjing (1842, end of the First Opium War) led to unrest and eventually to the dynasty's downfall. Inability to modernise the country and remove foreign influence was the main cause of their removal from power.
Although there have been quite a few attempts at removing the Qing dynasty, the first successful one was in 1911 during the Xinhai Revolution. Period of instability, unrest and civil war ensued and lasted until 1928 when the first Chinese political party, Kuomintang, led by Chiang Kai-shek, established a central government. After many failed discussions with the Chinese Communist Party, which was in a coalition with Kuomintang, Chiang Kai-shek started purging communists and so began the Chinese Civil War. 1949 marked the end of the war, with communists proclaiming the People's Republic of China and Kuomintang fleeing to Taiwan (which was considered the legitimate China until 1971). Mao Zedong, the new leader, wanted to reform China to become a role model for other communist states. He carried out agrarian reforms and collectivization. The reforms came to a climactic disaster when Mao Zedong started the Great Leap Forward in 1958. As a result of badly coordinated policies five per cent of the Chinese population perished.
After further radical Maoist reforms and tough political persecution which left many dead a strong demand for political and economic liberalisation emerged in the party. After Mao's death in 1976 this became possible. In 1978 first capitalist reforms were being introduced in which peasants, and later firms, were allowed to hold onto some of the produce to sell on their own accord without government interference. Numerous other reforms ensued in the eighties where executives' powers were expanded and role of the central government reduced. During the nineties many firms and industries were privatized, a process which continues today. As a result of these reforms, China experienced a great step forward in their political and economic power and became a superpower, one of the only countries which can claim to rival the US. Foreign direct investment, standard of living and trade are some areas of economy which saw significant increases. The attempts made by the Chinese to increase their role in global trade are best seen in the recent Belt and Road Initiative which seeks to economically integrate the whole world. |
