The Jiang Zemin Centenary: A Test of Xi Jinping’s Embrace of China’s Past

The upcoming centenary celebrations for former Chinese leader Jiang Zemin mark a significant moment in the country’s ongoing struggle to come to terms with its complex history. For decades, Jiang’s legacy has been subject to revision and reinterpretation by successive Communist Party leaderships.

As part of the festivities, state broadcaster CCTV has launched a 12-part documentary series on Jiang Zemin, airing two episodes nightly at prime time. The content is likely to be heavily sanitized and carefully scripted to conform to the Party’s current ideological preferences. This approach is consistent with the goals of such exercises in historical revisionism: to present a narrative that reinforces the Communist Party’s authority and legitimacy.

The centenary highlights Xi Jinping’s ongoing efforts to redefine China’s relationship with its past. By lavishing attention on Jiang Zemin, whose tenure was marked by significant economic reforms and diplomatic breakthroughs but also controversies over human rights and corruption, Xi is signaling his value for continuity and stability above all else.

This renewed focus on China’s domestic history may have implications for Beijing’s relations with other major powers. Will it lead to a more inward-looking foreign policy or embolden Xi to make fresh diplomatic overtures? The answer may not be immediately clear, but one thing is certain: the world will closely watch as Xi Jinping navigates this delicate balancing act.

Historically, such commemorations have often been used by Chinese leaders to consolidate their own power and promote their personal agendas. Jiang Zemin’s centenary is no exception in this regard. The grand symposium at the Great Hall of the People, attended by top echelons of the Communist Party and state leadership, will likely be a showcase for Xi Jinping’s vision for China’s future.

Critics have long argued that Jiang’s economic reforms came at the cost of human rights abuses and corruption. Can Xi Jinping reconcile these competing narratives, or will the centenary celebrations simply paper over the cracks? As China looks to its past for inspiration, it would do well to remember the lessons of history – including those that are messy, complicated, and sometimes uncomfortable.

The Jiang Zemin centenary presents a moment for China to come to terms with its own complexities. Will Xi Jinping’s grand ceremony and carefully scripted documentary series succeed in presenting a seamless narrative of continuity and progress? Or will they merely reinforce the Party’s control over China’s history and memory? Only time will tell, but one thing is certain: the world will be watching as Beijing grapples with its own identity and the place of Jiang Zemin within it.