Xi Jinpings first term as the leader of the Peoples Republic of China (PRC) has witnessed a centralisation of power unprecedented in the post-Mao political life. His constitutional amendments, persecution of political rivals and growing personality cult are just some features of Xis highly authoritarian rule. This presentation endeavours to answer the question: to what extent is Xi the new Mao? It systematically compares the leadership styles of Xi Jinping and Mao Zedong, on the basis of their titles, powers, personality cults and goals benchmarks intended to be representative of leadership within the unique Chinese system. It has become apparent that despite significant similarities between the two leaders such as quasi-identical motivations for their political actions, there remain fundamental and stylistic differences between the two that render it inaccurate to call Xi the new Mao. While Xi and Mao are the same in many ways, what has changed is the economic, political and social context within which they exist, both inside and outside the Peoples Republic.
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