Weapons Of The Rich. Strategic Action Of Private Entrepreneurs In Contemporary China. Thomas Heberer

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СКАЧАТЬ conceptualized as components of a larger entity (a corporate firm) with the goal of maximizing the profits of the local corporate state. In this concept, the state figured as an entrepreneur itself, establishing and operating collective-owned enterprises (TVEs) in order to develop a locality. Under the conditions of ‘local state corporatism 2.0’, however, the local state no longer figures as a ‘corporate head’ but increasingly acts as an ‘interested facilitator’ and regulator of private sector development.

      ³³Zhonggong zhongyang guanyu quanmian shenhua gaige ruogan wenti de jueding (Decision of the Chinese Communist Party and the Central Government on Some Issues Concerning Comprehensively Deepening Reforms). Chinese version: http://cpc.people.com.cn/n/2013/1115/c64094-23559163.html (accessed 3 January 2019).

      ³⁴See, e.g. ‘Xi Jinping tan minying qiyejia: dajia dou you tou you lian yao weihu hao xingxiang’ (Xi Jinping on private entrepreneurs: All are respected people who should safeguard their image). http://finance.sina.com.cn/roll/2016-03-09/doc-ifxqafrm7345622.shtml (accessed 10 March 2016).

      ³⁵An extensive Chinese study on the innovation potential of China’s private entrepreneurs is provided by Liu Dan (2017).

      ³⁶‘New social classes’ refers to four groups of people: private entrepreneurs and leading managing and technical personnel of private enterprises and foreign joint ventures; leading figures of intermediate and social organizations; self-employed persons; and leading figures in the new social media (see also Luqiu and Liu, 2018). An overview of the ‘New social classes’ is provided by Zhang Linjiang (2018).

      ³⁷A specific bureau was established to consult representatives from these new social classes. See ‘Zhongyang tongzhanbu shige 11 nian zai she xinju zhuanmen fuze xinde shehui jieceng renshi tongzhan gongzuo’ (After 11 years the United Front Department of the CCP has established a new bureau targeting the new social classes). http://epaper.jinghua.cn/html/2016-07/05/content_316162.htm (accessed 1 October 2016).

      ³⁸See ‘Shaanxi xin shengdai qiyejia he xinde shehui jieceng renshi lingting 19da jingshen xuanchuan’ (The new generation of entrepreneurs and new social classes in Shanxi listen to the propagation of the spirit of the 19th Party Congress). http://news.sina.com.cn/o/2017-12-08/doc-ifypnyqi2272507.shtml (accessed 1 May 2018).

      ³⁹See Zai jie ‘xindeshehui jieceng renshi’ (Newly understanding the ‘new social classes’). http://www.zytzb.gov.cn/tzb2010/zcjd/201703/f2cd5f2c04b64e8a95e5ab7e6f378a81. shtml (accessed 2 May 2018).

      ⁴⁰‘Quanguo tongzhanbuzhang huiyi: Jinnian yao jiaqiang xinde shehui jieceng renshi tongzhan gongzuo’ (National conference of the heads of United Front Departments: From this year onwards the United Front work with new the social classes shall be reinforced). http://money.163.com/18/0118/15/D8EOOPUB002580S6.html (accessed 4 May 2018). On private entrepreneurs as a new social class, see also Huang Dongya (2014).

      ⁴¹See http://house.china.com.cn/apple/fullview_823253.htm (accessed 28 March 2016).

      ⁴²See, e.g. Mass entrepreneurship and innovation as new growth engine. http://english.gov.cn/premier/news/2016/03/03/content_281475300571752.htm (accessed 24 April 2018). See also http://guoqing.china.com.cn/word-en/2016-05/10/content_38430378.htm (accessed 24 April 2018).

      ⁴³See, e.g. ‘Rang minying qiye chengwei chuangxin zhuti’ (Let private enterprises become the main force of innovation) (2017). Qinghai Ribao (Qinghai Daily), 24 November. http://news.ifeng.com/a/20171124/53544625_0.shtml (accessed 2 May 2018). A 2018 report published by the European Chamber of Commerce in Beijing revealed that in 2017 the expenses of private enterprises for research and development were 13 percent higher than in 2016. The report noted that these figures are comparable to those in industrialized countries. See Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, 21 June 2018.

      ⁴⁴In 2018, a forum organized by private entrepreneurs defined ‘entrepreneurial spirit’ as the determination to contribute to the nation no matter how big the difficulties are (Wang Meng, 2018: 77). For the party, ‘entrepreneurial spirit’ means to be creative and innovative so that they can pave the way for China’s turn from being a production base for traditional industries to a high-tech and knowledge-based economy (Wang Meng, 2018).

      ⁴⁵For an early academic conceptualization of ‘entrepreneurial spirit’ with the help of indicators to measure entrepreneurship as well as innovation and leadership capacity, see Wu et al. (2014) and Hu (2018). Xi Jinping, for his part, added patriotism and social responsibility to the concept of ‘entrepreneurial spirit’.

      ⁴⁶In April 2018, for instance, the National Federation of Industry and Commerce organized a meeting in Beijing attended by government representatives and private entrepreneurs to discuss new policies to strengthen private enterprises such as downscaling administrative procedures and costs, as well as introducing new tax reduction incentives. See 9 bumen wei minqi zhuanchang jiedu youhua yingshang huanjing (Special meeting with 9 government bureaus to interpret the optimization of the business environment), http://www.xinhuanet.com/politics/2018-04/03/c_1122628747.htm (accessed 3 April 2018).

      ⁴⁷Liu Mingping weiyuan huyu zhuoli pojie minying qiye ‘san nan’ (PCC member Liu Mingping urges to solve the ‘three difficulties’ of private entrepreneurs). Jiangzhun Shibao (Jiangzhun Times), 8 March 2018.

      ⁴⁸For his speech, see http://www.qnr.cn/waiyu/yiwen/eng/201501/1039326.html (accessed 4 May 2018).

      ⁴⁹Nation to boost entrepreneurship innovation, China Daily, 7 September 2018.

      ⁵⁰‘2018 nian zhongda lifa, anli quanmian shuli’ (Significant legislation in 2018, comprehensively sort out specific cases). http://www.chinalawinfo.com/Feature/FeatureDisplay1.aspx?featureId=602&year=2018&data=2018/2/5 (accessed 4 May 2018).

      ⁵¹A prominent example of those private entrepreneurs recently acquitted is Zhang Wenzhong, founder of the Wumart chain stores, who was declared innocent of charges of fraud, embezzlement, and corporate bribery in May 2018, after spending nine of his 12-year sentence in jail. In fact, close connections to high-ranking officials may prove to be either a blessing or an existential danger for China’s private entrepreneurs, as their fortune becomes intrinsically linked to the destiny of their political patrons, a destiny which has become unpredictable in Xi Jinping’s China. See Wang (2018a).

      ⁵²‘Gongchang tingle! Dapi gongren shiye! Huanbao Zhongya xia, hai tan shenme fazhan’ (Factories stop production! Many workers are jobless! How to talk about development under strong pressure of environmental protection). https://www.xuehua.us/2018/08/10/СКАЧАТЬ