Xi Jinping: An Ideological turn Towards Maoism?

After Xi Jinping's 2012 take over as the general secretary of the CCP, many experts pointed out some that his political agenda and style of politics present a gradual break of long-standing way of Chinese collective leadership, which has been one of the hallmarks of the post-1978 reform era. Furthermore, many are trying to interpret Xi's strong position within Chinese political system together with his reliance on more stringent control of ideological and factual control of the Chinese society as a sort of return to Maoism. Xi is seen by many as quite different kind of politician than were two previous Chinese “paramount leaders (Jiang Zemin and Hu Jintao), who is not afraid to centralize power within the party and state apparatus together with stronger reliance on more or less orthodox Marxist-Leninist ideological tenants. In my paper I analyze Xi's political strategies and leadership style by comparison with that of the Maoist era of the PRC (1949-1976). I come to conclusion than superficially there are some resemblances between Xi and Mao, Maoist slogans are mostly used as a tool for boosting Xi’s position within the power-struggle among the party leadership. Furthermore, some of the most controversial (and in the end counterproductive) characteristics of Mao’s rule over China are missing from the political strategy of contemporary Chinese president and CCP general secretary, primarily the emphasis on nationwide mass campaign with goal to mobilize the revolutionary potential of Chinese masses.