The Ideals of Today's Modernizing People's Liberation Army
Abstract
As China emerges as a major world power, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has adjusted its ideology to maintain national spirit and power. Elements of this adjustment can be seen in changes within the People's Liberation Army (PLA). As the PLA aggressively pursues a revolution in military affairs with Chinese characteristics, some have asserted the PLA's modernization and professionalization reform involves reviving values and ideals associated with Confucianism and China's traditional past. This thesis will reveal that the PLA has not revived values and ideals associated with Confucianism in its drive to modernize. Instead, the PLA is incorporating values and ideals similar to other modernizing militaries that have some similarities to ancient Chinese ideals but are comparatively different. The values and ideals the PLA has incorporated provide a foundation for all service members and clarify allegiances, define acceptable ethical behavior, elucidate competing ideological thoughts, establish a benchmark for military members' actions with each other and with society, and facilitate loyalty to the CCP.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 01, 2010
- Accession Number
- ADA524688
Entities
People
- Douglas P. Kisby
Organizations
- Naval Postgraduate School