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|founder = [[Yuan Xiannian]]
|founder = [[Yuan Xiannian]]
|slogan =  
|slogan =  
|merger = [[Constitutional Protection Society]], [[National Association for Progress]], {{wp|Independent (politics)|independents}}
|merger =  
|predecessor =  
|predecessor =  
|leader1_title = Chairman
|leader1_title = Chairman
|leader1_name = [[Jiang Zhongyu]]
|leader1_name = [[Jiang Zhongyu]]
|leader2_title = Leader in the [[Legislative Council (Shangea)|Legislative Council]]
|leader2_title = Deputy Chairmen
|leader2_name = [[Wang Hongzhi]]  
|leader2_name = [[Lu Qinqin]]<br>Xi Lejiang
|leader3_title =
|leader3_title =
|leader3_name =
|leader3_name =
|leader4_title =  
|leader4_title =  
|leader4_name =  
|leader4_name =  
|founded = 12<sup>th</sup> March 2007
|founded = 12<sup>th</sup> July 1988
|dissolved =  
|dissolved =  
|headquarters = 14 Donfang District, Rongzhuo
|headquarters = 14 Donfang District, Rongzhuo
Line 21: Line 21:
|student_wing =  
|student_wing =  
|youth_wing = Nationalist Revivalist Front
|youth_wing = Nationalist Revivalist Front
|ideology = [[National Principlism]]<Br>[[Shangean nationalism]]<Br>{{wp|Authoritarianism}}<br>{{wp|Social conservatism}}<br>{{wp|Economic nationalism}}<br>[[Yuan Xiannian#Ideology and beliefs|Yuanism]]<br>{{wp|Anti-imperialism}} <small>(self-proclaimed)</small>
|ideology = [[National Principlism]]<br>[[Yuan Xiannian#Ideology and beliefs|Yuanism]]<br>{{wp|Neosocialism}}
|position = {{Wp|Big tent}}
|position = {{Wp|Left-wing}}<ref group="a" name="Political position">The Society for Restoring Benevolence has been variously described as {{wp|left-wing}}, {{wp|far-left}} and left-conservative due to being considered to be {{wp|Social conservatism|right-wing on social issues}}.</ref>
|membership = 12 million{{increase}}
|membership = 12 million{{increase}}
|affiliation1_title = National affiliation
|affiliation1_title = National affiliation
Line 37: Line 37:
|website =  
|website =  
|country = Shangea
|country = Shangea
|footnotes = <references group="a"/>
}}
}}
The '''Society for Restoring Benevolence''' ({{Wp|Chinese language|Shangea}}: '''仁者再生会'''; ''Rénzhě zàishēng huì'') is a political party in [[Shangea]]. Since its creation in 2007 it has been the ruling party of Shangea representing the interests of senior governmental figures, big business and the state bureaucracy being supportive of [[State Chairman of Shangea|State Chairman]] [[Yuan Xiannian]] and his agenda.
The '''Society for Restoring Benevolence''' ({{Wp|Chinese language|Shangea}}: '''仁者再生会'''; ''Rénzhě zàishēng huì'') is a political party in [[Shangea]]. Since its creation in 1984 it has been the ruling party of Shangea representing the interests of senior governmental figures, big business and the state bureaucracy being supportive of [[State Chairman of Shangea|State Chairman]] [[Yuan Xiannian]] and his agenda.


The Society for Restoring Benevolence is the latest in a line of ruling parties in Shangea that have held power since 1940 starting with the [[Xiaodong Regeneration Society]] that are often referred to as the "{{wp|party of power}}". The Society itself was created in March 2007 as a merger of the [[Constitutional Protection Society]] and the [[National Association for Progress]]. It sought to promote the values of [[National Principlism]] and the "[[Corrective Revolution (Xiaodong)|Corrective Revolutionary spirit]]".  
The Society for Restoring Benevolence is considered to be the spiritual successor of the [[Xiaodong Regeneration Society]], being often referred to as the "{{wp|party of power}}". The Society itself was created in March 1988 as an attempt to reintroduce the party state after the official non-partisanship of the Rejuvenation period. It seeks to promote the values of [[National Principlism]] and the "[[Corrective Revolution (Xiaodong)|Corrective Revolutionary spirit]]".  


The party has ruled Shangea as a {{wp|dominant-party state}} since its foundation in 2007, winning a legislative supermajority at the 2009 election and a simple majority at the 2014 election. The Society suffered a decline in support as a result of the [[2016-17 Shangean Protests]]. The 10<sup>th</sup> January snap elections in 2017 saw the Society and affiliated parties win an overwhelming majority in the Legislative Council in a result that was largely seen as rigged. The continuing protests and harsh suppression of them with the advent of the [[Normalisation (Shangea)|Normalisation]] process saw the party cement itself as the central organ of the Shangean state, a position it has continued to hold throughout the Yuan government.  
The party has ruled Shangea as a {{wp|dominant-party state}} since its foundation in 1988, winning a legislative supermajority at the 2009 election and a simple majority at the 2014 election. The Society suffered a decline in support as a result of the [[2016-17 Shangean Protests]]. The 10<sup>th</sup> January snap elections in 2017 saw the Society and affiliated parties win an overwhelming majority in the Legislative Council in a result that was largely seen as rigged. The continuing protests and harsh suppression of them with the advent of the [[Normalisation (Shangea)|Normalisation]] process saw the party cement itself as the central organ of the Shangean state, a position it has continued to hold throughout the Yuan government.  


The Society states that it is a {{wp|big tent}} party which supports National Principlism, anti-imperialism and economic reformism. However most observers state that the party has no real policies other then support for Yuan Xiannian and as such adopts similar policies to him such as promotion of nationalism and economic centralisation. The Society have support across most societal sectors having links with big business, the government bureaucracy and the military. As the "permanent party of government" the  Society often resorts to a mixture of pragmatist and populist policies to the extent where critics contend that the party is largely non-ideological save for preserving statism.   
The Society states that it is a {{wp|socialism|socialist}} party which supports National Principlism, anti-imperialism and economic reformism. However most observers state that the party has no real ideology other then support for Yuan Xiannian and as such adopts similar policies to him such as promotion of nationalism and economic centralisation. The Society have support across most societal sectors having links with big business, the government bureaucracy and the military. As the "permanent party of government" the  Society often resorts to a mixture of pragmatist and populist policies to the extent where critics contend that the party is largely non-ideological save for preserving statism.   
==History==
==History==
===Formation===
===Formation===
The Society for Restoring Benevolence was founded as a merger of the two governing parties of Shangea, the [[Constitutional Protection Society]] and the [[National Association for Progress]]. The CPP had been founded in 1984 by then-[[State Chairman of Shangea|State Chairman]] [[Qian Xingwen]] to be a dominant-party similar to the [[Xiaodong Regeneration Society]] which had governed the country from 1940 to 1970. However it lost popularity following the [[Orchid Revolution]] with the reformist faction splitting forming the [[Concordance Democratic Party]]. The CDP itself would splinter in government under [[Li Jingyao]] in 1993 due to pressure from State Chairman [[Yang Zhengming]] with a more conservative faction under [[Mao Zhukang]] and [[Han Guanzheng]] forming the NAP. The CPP and NAP would subsequently form a {{wp|coalition government}} from May 1994 onwards with the CPP taking the State Chairman role and the NAP the premiership.
[[File:Shinzō Abe in Brussels.jpeg|left|thumb|[[State Chairman of Shangea|State Chairman]] [[Yuan Xiannian]] founded the Society and is considered its key figure.|250px]]
The NAP were the more reformist of the two supporting economic liberalisation whilst the CPP represented the more purist National Principlist doctrine. Efforts to merge them floundered as the NAP leader and premier Han Guanzheng opposed a centralisation of power around State Chairman and dominant CPP personality Yang. Yangs retirement in 2006 and replacement with vice-premier [[Yuan Xiannian]] saw a push from Yuan to merge the two parties to enforce more ideological rigour to governance and provide stability in Shangean politics. Yuan's popularity and the support he garnered from a new generation of politicians such as [[Jiang Zhongyu]], [[Xu Bangguo]] and [[Wang Hongzhi]] helped lead to the NAP and CPP to approve a merger in March 2007 with Yuan being elected the first chairman of the party.
The merger into the Society was presented by Yuan as providing the country with a unitary, big-tent party that would uphold [[National Principlism]] whilst providing pragmatic and non-ideological governance. The unitary party however was noted in its governing programme to take a more nationalist, less reform-minded course with its senior leadership being more identified with supporters of Yuan's ultranationalism and economic populism.
===Party of power===
===Party of power===
===Normalisation and its aftermath===
===Normalisation and its aftermath===
==Ideology and policies==
==Ideology and policies==
The Society for Restoring Benevolence officially ascribe to the ideology of [[National Principlism]] which advocates for economic modernisation, centralised political republicanism and social collectivism that aim to serve national rather than personal interest. In a general sense this is defined to encompasses {{wp|nationalism}}, {{wp|authoritarianism}}, {{wp|neosocialism}}, political [[Zohism]] and {{wp|social justice}} (although not in the modern meaning of the term).  
The Society for Restoring Benevolence officially ascribe to the ideology of [[National Principlism]] which advocates for the moral, economic and national rejuvanation of society through the implementation of an authoritarian socialist state. In a general sense this is defined to encompasses {{wp|nationalism}}, {{wp|authoritarianism}}, {{wp|neosocialism}}, political [[Zohism]] and {{wp|social justice}} (although not in the modern meaning of the term).  


In practice, the Society often endorses the centralisation of state power, upholding of traditional culture and an archaic form of social justice. Key to the Society's policy making and ideology is the belief in authoritarian, top-down centralisation of power. National Principlism above all else endorses social stability and the role of an authoritarian, paternalistic state. As a result the Society remain sceptical of popular movements, and seek to maintain a low level of constant control of Shangean society. The Society is disapproving of an active civil society, but since democratic reforms Neo-National Principlists have aimed to fuse traditional paternalist authoritarianism with a form of "{{wp|Totalitarian democracy|authoritarian democracy}}" in which political participation is limited to elections alone. The Society's focus on social stability means that it endorses moderate social reform and the existence of a welfare state in order to prevent revolution and social collapse. The Society opposes market fundamentalism and individualism, seeing both as detrimental to the social cohesion of the nation.  
In practice, the Society often endorses the centralisation of state power, upholding of traditional culture and neosocialism. Key to the Society's policy making and ideology is the belief in authoritarian, top-down centralisation of power. National Principlism above all else endorses social stability and the role of an authoritarian, paternalistic state. As a result the Society remain sceptical of popular movements, and seek to maintain a low level of constant control of Shangean society. The Society is disapproving of an active civil society, but since democratic reforms National Principlists have aimed to fuse traditional paternalist authoritarianism with a form of "{{wp|Totalitarian democracy|authoritarian democracy}}" in which political participation is limited to elections alone. The Society's focus on social stability means that it endorses moderate social reform and the existence of a welfare state in order to prevent revolution and social collapse. The Society opposes market fundamentalism and individualism, seeing both as detrimental to the social cohesion of the nation.  


International paper ''Le Monde'' described National Principlism and the Society's adoption of it as being a practice "a way to justify a rigid, authoritarian state that seeks to control the lives of its citizens whilst maintaining a thin veneer of adherence to democratic principles". The Society is commonly considered ideologically to support the agenda of incumbent [[State Chairman of Shangea|State Chairman]] [[Yuan Xiannian]] sometimes being dubbed a {{wp|Personalism|personalist}} project.  
International paper ''Le Monde'' described National Principlism and the Society's adoption of it as being a practice "a way to justify a rigid, authoritarian state that seeks to control the lives of its citizens whilst maintaining a thin veneer of adherence to socialist principles". The Society is commonly considered ideologically to support the agenda of incumbent [[State Chairman of Shangea|State Chairman]] [[Yuan Xiannian]] sometimes being dubbed a {{wp|Personalism|personalist}} project.  
===Economic policy===
===Economic policy===
The Society often uses socialist rhetoric and identifies its economic position as serving the people's and national welfare, rejecting capitalism as being unsuited to the national conditions of Shangea, and proposes instead "Shangean socialism" to deal with Shangean problems. The Society's socialist ideology has been defined as "{{wp|Neosocialism|neosocialist revisionism}}".
The Society often uses socialist rhetoric and identifies its economic position as serving the people's and national welfare, rejecting capitalism as being unsuited to the national conditions of Shangea, and proposes instead "Shangean socialism" to deal with Shangean problems. The Society's socialist ideology has been defined as "{{wp|Neosocialism|neosocialist revisionism}}".


In practice unlike their predecessor parties such as the [[Xiaodong Regeneration Society]] or the [[National Association for Progress]] the Society neither support a {{wp|command economy}} nor {{wp|economic liberalism}}. Rather they support a statist, regulatory approach to economic management championing a form of {{wp|East Asian model of capitalism|state-sponsored capitalism}} wherein the state would direct large monopolies through strategic {{wp|economic interventionism|interventions}}, with the intention to guide the economy to ensure the national interest was served. However, certain sectors, notably the financial sector, remain deregulated and direct taxes low. As well as this, the Society became very heavily in favour of free trade aggressively dismantling tariffs and encouraging foreign investment. Under Yuan, faith in the free market was replaced by a belief of Society policy makers that the state was necessary to ensure economic growth in key sectors and mitigate the downturns of free-market instability. Nevertheless, the Society reject {{wp|nationalisation}} and support the privatisation of state assets. In 2013 Yuan defined his economic strategy as encouraging investment through higher education and infrastructure spending, stability through economic interventions and tightly controlling the value of kuai, and liberalisation through massive privatisation and embracing free trade. Since 2017 however there has been a greater focus on {{wp|economic nationalism}} with the state expanding support for "national champions" whilst halting the privatisation process.
In practice unlike their predecessor parties such as the [[Xiaodong Regeneration Society]] or the [[National Association for Progress]] the Society neither support a {{wp|command economy}} nor {{wp|economic liberalism}}. Rather they support a statist, regulatory approach to economic management championing a form of {{wp|East Asian model of capitalism|state-sponsored capitalism}} wherein the state would direct large monopolies through strategic {{wp|economic interventionism|interventions}}, with the intention to guide the economy to ensure the national interest was served. However, certain sectors, notably the financial sector, remain highly regulated. As well as this, the Society became very heavily in favour of free trade aggressively dismantling tariffs and encouraging foreign investment. Under Yuan, faith in the free market was replaced by a belief of Society policy makers that the state was necessary to ensure economic growth in key sectors and mitigate the downturns of free-market instability. Nevertheless, the Society reject {{wp|nationalisation}} and support the privatisation of state assets. In 2013 Yuan defined his economic strategy as encouraging investment through higher education and infrastructure spending, stability through economic interventions and tightly controlling the value of kuai, and liberalisation through massive privatisation and embracing free trade. Since 2017 however there has been a greater focus on {{wp|economic nationalism}} with the state expanding support for "national champions" whilst halting the privatisation process. In 2022 the Society officially repudiated capitalism calling for the consolidation of a "{{wp|socialist-orientated market economy}}".


The current economic program of the Society supports {{wp|East Asian model of capitalism|state-sponsored investment}}, {{wp|privatisation}} of state-owned assets, focus on {{wp|indirect taxation}} and export-based inflationary growth.  
The current economic program of the Society has moved away from {{wp|East Asian model of capitalism|state-sponsored investment}}, {{wp|privatisation}} of state-owned assets, focus on {{wp|indirect taxation}} and export-based inflationary growth towards a {{wp|socialist-orientated market economy}} which is more protectionist and deflationary.  
===Historical Revisionism===
===Historical Revisionism===
As part of its {{wp|nationalism|nationalist}} ideology, the Society support {{wp|historical revisionism}} in regards to Shangeab history particularly the [[Senrian Genocide]]. The Society wholeheartedly reject the Treaty of Keishi which they deem illegitimate as it was signed by an [[Republic of Shangea|illegitimate government]] and was not done in fair terms. In particular, the Society have stated that Shangea does not bear responsibility for the war stating that the Senrian annexation of [[Sakata]] led to the conflict. The Society have also said that Shangea's imperialist ambitions were "less malicious" to those of [[Gaullica]], [[Estmere]], [[Etruria]] and [[Werania]] and that Shangea protected Coian nations such as [[Senria]] from [[Euclea]]n imperialism.
As part of its {{wp|nationalism|nationalist}} ideology, the Society support {{wp|historical revisionism}} in regards to Shangean history particularly the [[Senrian Genocide]]. The Society wholeheartedly reject the Treaty of Keishi which they deem illegitimate as it was signed by an [[Republic of Shangea|illegitimate government]] and was not done in fair terms. In particular, the Society have stated that Shangea does not bear responsibility for the war stating that the Senrian annexation of [[Sakata]] led to the conflict. The Society have also said that Shangea's imperialist ambitions were "less malicious" to those of [[Gaullica]], [[Estmere]], [[Etruria]] and [[Werania]] and that Shangea protected Coian nations such as [[Senria]] from [[Euclea]]n imperialism.


In terms of the Senrian Genocide the Society have been unable to present a unified opinion on the matter. Officially they endorse [[Qian Xingwen]]'s 1987 declaration "''On the Subject of the Senrian War and its consequences''" admitted mass killing had taken place and apologised for civilian deaths, although Qian ruled out the possibility of reparations, stating the mass killings of civilians was simply part of the war and there was no "''policy of extermination''". Recently under Yuan Xiannian the  Society has become more openly historical revisionist, with Yuan rejecting the possibility of a genocide as "''Senrian functionalist propaganda''". In 2016, Yuan stated Shangean war crimes were a "''detail of history''" and that "'', the Senrian claim that there was a pre-planned effort to kill civilians on a mass scale is absurd...why would a nation, especially one with as peaceful culture as Shangea, do such crimes?''".  
In terms of the Senrian Genocide the Society have been unable to present a unified opinion on the matter. Officially they endorse [[Qian Xingwen]]'s 1987 declaration "''On the Subject of the Senrian War and its consequences''" admitted mass killing had taken place and apologised for civilian deaths, although Qian ruled out the possibility of reparations, stating the mass killings of civilians was simply part of the war and there was no "''policy of extermination''". Recently under Yuan Xiannian the  Society has become more openly historical revisionist, with Yuan rejecting the possibility of a genocide as "''Senrian functionalist propaganda''". In 2016, Yuan stated Shangean war crimes were a "''detail of history''" and that "'', the Senrian claim that there was a pre-planned effort to kill civilians on a mass scale is absurd...why would a nation, especially one with as peaceful culture as Shangea, do such crimes?''".  
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==Organisation==
==Organisation==
The highest ranking official within the Society for Restoring Benevolence is its Chairman (主席; Zhǔxí). The Chairman is the head of the Central Executive Committee (中央行政部门委员会; Zhōngyāng xíngzhèng bùmén wěiyuán huì) which is made up of 20 voting members and 5 non-voting members, acting as the supreme executive body within the Regeneration Society. The Central Executive Committee sets the policy of the party as well as oversee party affairs and appointments. The Central Executive Committee is appointed by the Chairman who is elected by the Regeneration Society Plenum (全会; Quánhuì) which meets every five years - as such the Chairman is allowed to run for unlimited five year terms. The Plenum is made up of delegates from regional Society branches who are picked by the Chairman, meaning the Chairman is always re-elected. The next party plenum is scheduled to take place in 2022.  
The highest ranking official within the Society for Restoring Benevolence is its Chairman (主席; Zhǔxí). The Chairman is the head of the Central Executive Committee (中央行政部门委员会; Zhōngyāng xíngzhèng bùmén wěiyuán huì) which is made up of 20 voting members and 5 non-voting members, acting as the supreme executive body within the Regeneration Society. The Central Executive Committee sets the policy of the party as well as oversee party affairs and appointments. The Central Executive Committee is appointed by the Chairman who is elected by the Regeneration Society Plenum (全会; Quánhuì) which meets every five years - as such the Chairman is allowed to run for unlimited five year terms. The Plenum is made up of delegates from regional Society branches who are picked by the Chairman, meaning the Chairman is always re-elected. The next party plenum is scheduled to take place in 2027.  


The day-to-day running of the party is handled by the Co-ordination Unit which oversees the administration and finances of the Society on a nationwide basis. It is led by three General Secretaries and contains several rotating members overall. The Co-ordination Unit is appointed by the Central Executive Committee. Members of the Society who sit in the Legislative Council form the Legislative Unit that coordinates party affairs between members of the Legislative Council. The members of all these branches are appointed by the Central Executive Committee who also appoint the leaders of regional party branches. Prospective candidates for elections are also approved by the Central Executive Committee via the Co-ordination Unit. Most policy within the Society is set by the Policy Unit, which is appointed by the Chairman. At a local level the Society is governed by prefectural branches which in turn are divided into municipal branches.  
The day-to-day running of the party is handled by the Co-ordination Unit which oversees the administration and finances of the Society on a nationwide basis. It is led by three General Secretaries and contains several rotating members overall. The Co-ordination Unit is appointed by the Central Executive Committee. Members of the Society who sit in the Legislative Council form the Legislative Unit that coordinates party affairs between members of the Legislative Council. The members of all these branches are appointed by the Central Executive Committee who also appoint the leaders of regional party branches. Prospective candidates for elections are also approved by the Central Executive Committee via the Co-ordination Unit. Most policy within the Society is set by the Policy Unit, which is appointed by the Chairman. At a local level the Society is governed by prefectural branches which in turn are divided into municipal branches.  
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|-
|-
! style="background:#DC143C; color:white;"| 1
! style="background:#DC143C; color:white;"| 1
| [[Yuan Xiannian]]<br /><small>(1954-)</small> || [[File:Shinzō Abe 20060926.jpg|60px]] || 12<sup>th</sup> March 2007 || 18<sup>th</sup> June 2011 || [[State Chairman of Shangea|State Chairman]]
| [[Yuan Jiaxiang]]<br /><small>(1926-1994)</small> || [[File:Yuan Jiaxiang.png|60px]] || 12<sup>th</sup> July 1988 || 5<sup>th</sup> May 1994 || President of the Legislative Council
|-
|-
! style="background:#DC143C; color:white;"| 2
! style="background:#DC143C; color:white;"| 2
| [[Han Guanzheng]]<br /><small>(1940-)</small> || [[File:Ху Цзиньтао 2017.jpg|60px]] || 5<sup>th</sup> May 1994 || 30<sup>th</sup> March 2007 || [[Premier of Shangea|Premier]]
|-
! style="background:#DC143C; color:white;"| 3
| [[Yuan Xiannian]]<br /><small>(1954-)</small> || [[File:Shinzō Abe 20060926.jpg|60px]] || 30<sup>th</sup> March 2007 || 18<sup>th</sup> June 2011 || [[State Chairman of Shangea|State Chairman]]
|-
! style="background:#DC143C; color:white;"| 4
| [[Xi Yaotang]]<br /><small>(1943-)</small> || [[File:Wen Jiabao 02.jpg|60px]] || 18<sup>th</sup> June 2011 || 19<sup>th</sup> June 2014 || [[Premier of Shangea|Premier]]
| [[Xi Yaotang]]<br /><small>(1943-)</small> || [[File:Wen Jiabao 02.jpg|60px]] || 18<sup>th</sup> June 2011 || 19<sup>th</sup> June 2014 || [[Premier of Shangea|Premier]]
|-
|-
! style="background:#DC143C; color:white;"| 3
! style="background:#DC143C; color:white;"| 5
| [[Jiang Zhongyu]]<br /><small>(1956 -)</small> || [[File:Xi Jinping portrait 2019 (cropped).jpg|60px]] || 19<sup>th</sup> June 2014 || Present || [[Premier of Shangea|Premier]]
| [[Jiang Zhongyu]]<br /><small>(1956 -)</small> || [[File:成都大运会 Chengdu 2021 20230728 10 - Xi Jinping declares Chengdu Universiade open (cropped).jpg|60px]] || 19<sup>th</sup> June 2014 || Present || [[Premier of Shangea|Premier]]<br>Coordinating Minister of International Relations
|}
|}


Latest revision as of 01:04, 10 January 2024

Society for Restoring Benevolence
仁者再生会
Rénzhě zàishēng huì
ChairmanJiang Zhongyu
Deputy ChairmenLu Qinqin
Xi Lejiang
FounderYuan Xiannian
Founded12th July 1988
Headquarters14 Donfang District, Rongzhuo
NewspaperGlobal Review
Youth wingNationalist Revivalist Front
Membership12 millionIncrease
IdeologyNational Principlism
Yuanism
Neosocialism
Political positionLeft-wing[a 1]
National affiliationPatriotic Alliance for a Harmonious Country
Colors  Red
Legislative Council
515 / 750
Seats in regional assemblies
1,836 / 2,506
State Presidium
6 / 10
  1. ↑ The Society for Restoring Benevolence has been variously described as left-wing, far-left and left-conservative due to being considered to be right-wing on social issues.

The Society for Restoring Benevolence (Shangea: 仁者再生会; Rénzhě zàishēng huì) is a political party in Shangea. Since its creation in 1984 it has been the ruling party of Shangea representing the interests of senior governmental figures, big business and the state bureaucracy being supportive of State Chairman Yuan Xiannian and his agenda.

The Society for Restoring Benevolence is considered to be the spiritual successor of the Xiaodong Regeneration Society, being often referred to as the "party of power". The Society itself was created in March 1988 as an attempt to reintroduce the party state after the official non-partisanship of the Rejuvenation period. It seeks to promote the values of National Principlism and the "Corrective Revolutionary spirit".

The party has ruled Shangea as a dominant-party state since its foundation in 1988, winning a legislative supermajority at the 2009 election and a simple majority at the 2014 election. The Society suffered a decline in support as a result of the 2016-17 Shangean Protests. The 10th January snap elections in 2017 saw the Society and affiliated parties win an overwhelming majority in the Legislative Council in a result that was largely seen as rigged. The continuing protests and harsh suppression of them with the advent of the Normalisation process saw the party cement itself as the central organ of the Shangean state, a position it has continued to hold throughout the Yuan government.

The Society states that it is a socialist party which supports National Principlism, anti-imperialism and economic reformism. However most observers state that the party has no real ideology other then support for Yuan Xiannian and as such adopts similar policies to him such as promotion of nationalism and economic centralisation. The Society have support across most societal sectors having links with big business, the government bureaucracy and the military. As the "permanent party of government" the Society often resorts to a mixture of pragmatist and populist policies to the extent where critics contend that the party is largely non-ideological save for preserving statism.

History

Formation

Party of power

Normalisation and its aftermath

Ideology and policies

The Society for Restoring Benevolence officially ascribe to the ideology of National Principlism which advocates for the moral, economic and national rejuvanation of society through the implementation of an authoritarian socialist state. In a general sense this is defined to encompasses nationalism, authoritarianism, neosocialism, political Zohism and social justice (although not in the modern meaning of the term).

In practice, the Society often endorses the centralisation of state power, upholding of traditional culture and neosocialism. Key to the Society's policy making and ideology is the belief in authoritarian, top-down centralisation of power. National Principlism above all else endorses social stability and the role of an authoritarian, paternalistic state. As a result the Society remain sceptical of popular movements, and seek to maintain a low level of constant control of Shangean society. The Society is disapproving of an active civil society, but since democratic reforms National Principlists have aimed to fuse traditional paternalist authoritarianism with a form of "authoritarian democracy" in which political participation is limited to elections alone. The Society's focus on social stability means that it endorses moderate social reform and the existence of a welfare state in order to prevent revolution and social collapse. The Society opposes market fundamentalism and individualism, seeing both as detrimental to the social cohesion of the nation.

International paper Le Monde described National Principlism and the Society's adoption of it as being a practice "a way to justify a rigid, authoritarian state that seeks to control the lives of its citizens whilst maintaining a thin veneer of adherence to socialist principles". The Society is commonly considered ideologically to support the agenda of incumbent State Chairman Yuan Xiannian sometimes being dubbed a personalist project.

Economic policy

The Society often uses socialist rhetoric and identifies its economic position as serving the people's and national welfare, rejecting capitalism as being unsuited to the national conditions of Shangea, and proposes instead "Shangean socialism" to deal with Shangean problems. The Society's socialist ideology has been defined as "neosocialist revisionism".

In practice unlike their predecessor parties such as the Xiaodong Regeneration Society or the National Association for Progress the Society neither support a command economy nor economic liberalism. Rather they support a statist, regulatory approach to economic management championing a form of state-sponsored capitalism wherein the state would direct large monopolies through strategic interventions, with the intention to guide the economy to ensure the national interest was served. However, certain sectors, notably the financial sector, remain highly regulated. As well as this, the Society became very heavily in favour of free trade aggressively dismantling tariffs and encouraging foreign investment. Under Yuan, faith in the free market was replaced by a belief of Society policy makers that the state was necessary to ensure economic growth in key sectors and mitigate the downturns of free-market instability. Nevertheless, the Society reject nationalisation and support the privatisation of state assets. In 2013 Yuan defined his economic strategy as encouraging investment through higher education and infrastructure spending, stability through economic interventions and tightly controlling the value of kuai, and liberalisation through massive privatisation and embracing free trade. Since 2017 however there has been a greater focus on economic nationalism with the state expanding support for "national champions" whilst halting the privatisation process. In 2022 the Society officially repudiated capitalism calling for the consolidation of a "socialist-orientated market economy".

The current economic program of the Society has moved away from state-sponsored investment, privatisation of state-owned assets, focus on indirect taxation and export-based inflationary growth towards a socialist-orientated market economy which is more protectionist and deflationary.

Historical Revisionism

As part of its nationalist ideology, the Society support historical revisionism in regards to Shangean history particularly the Senrian Genocide. The Society wholeheartedly reject the Treaty of Keishi which they deem illegitimate as it was signed by an illegitimate government and was not done in fair terms. In particular, the Society have stated that Shangea does not bear responsibility for the war stating that the Senrian annexation of Sakata led to the conflict. The Society have also said that Shangea's imperialist ambitions were "less malicious" to those of Gaullica, Estmere, Etruria and Werania and that Shangea protected Coian nations such as Senria from Euclean imperialism.

In terms of the Senrian Genocide the Society have been unable to present a unified opinion on the matter. Officially they endorse Qian Xingwen's 1987 declaration "On the Subject of the Senrian War and its consequences" admitted mass killing had taken place and apologised for civilian deaths, although Qian ruled out the possibility of reparations, stating the mass killings of civilians was simply part of the war and there was no "policy of extermination". Recently under Yuan Xiannian the Society has become more openly historical revisionist, with Yuan rejecting the possibility of a genocide as "Senrian functionalist propaganda". In 2016, Yuan stated Shangean war crimes were a "detail of history" and that ", the Senrian claim that there was a pre-planned effort to kill civilians on a mass scale is absurd...why would a nation, especially one with as peaceful culture as Shangea, do such crimes?".

Foreign policy

The Society aimed to maintain "total independence" in foreign affairs, and are critical of "imperialist domination". It has been the aim of the Society to create an alliance of Coian nations through both the Rongzhuo Strategic Protocol Organisation and the International Forum for Developing States. The Society officially endorse the Three Fundamentals - the isolation of Senria from international affairs, the maintenance of Shangea as a great power and the promotion of anti-imperialism.

The Society have in recent years promoted soft power positions such as increasing international aid, investing in developing countries, investing in Shangean culture and promoting it abroad through organisations such as the International Forum for Shangean Affairs. They additionally support the integration of Heijiang into Shangea.

Social policy

The Society oppose the legalisation of same-sex marriage with critics accusing the Society of using homophobic rhetoric. In 2021 the Society endorsed a law prohibiting LGBT+ representation in Shangean media.

Organisation

The highest ranking official within the Society for Restoring Benevolence is its Chairman (主席; Zhǔxí). The Chairman is the head of the Central Executive Committee (中央行政部门委员会; Zhōngyāng xíngzhèng bùmén wěiyuán huì) which is made up of 20 voting members and 5 non-voting members, acting as the supreme executive body within the Regeneration Society. The Central Executive Committee sets the policy of the party as well as oversee party affairs and appointments. The Central Executive Committee is appointed by the Chairman who is elected by the Regeneration Society Plenum (全会; Quánhuì) which meets every five years - as such the Chairman is allowed to run for unlimited five year terms. The Plenum is made up of delegates from regional Society branches who are picked by the Chairman, meaning the Chairman is always re-elected. The next party plenum is scheduled to take place in 2027.

The day-to-day running of the party is handled by the Co-ordination Unit which oversees the administration and finances of the Society on a nationwide basis. It is led by three General Secretaries and contains several rotating members overall. The Co-ordination Unit is appointed by the Central Executive Committee. Members of the Society who sit in the Legislative Council form the Legislative Unit that coordinates party affairs between members of the Legislative Council. The members of all these branches are appointed by the Central Executive Committee who also appoint the leaders of regional party branches. Prospective candidates for elections are also approved by the Central Executive Committee via the Co-ordination Unit. Most policy within the Society is set by the Policy Unit, which is appointed by the Chairman. At a local level the Society is governed by prefectural branches which in turn are divided into municipal branches.

In practice much of the organisation of the Regeneration Society is based on guanxi networks between members of the Society and the public, with the Society relying on the personal loyalty of members and supporters to increase their own influence in the Society and maintain power, leading to accusations of cronyism and nepotism as well as factionalism being common.

Internal groupings

Party chairman

No. Name
(Born–Died) 		Portrait Term in Office State position
1 Yuan Jiaxiang
(1926-1994)		 Yuan Jiaxiang.png 12th July 1988 5th May 1994 President of the Legislative Council
2 Han Guanzheng
(1940-)		 Ху Цзиньтао 2017.jpg 5th May 1994 30th March 2007 Premier
3 Yuan Xiannian
(1954-)		 Shinzō Abe 20060926.jpg 30th March 2007 18th June 2011 State Chairman
4 Xi Yaotang
(1943-)		 Wen Jiabao 02.jpg 18th June 2011 19th June 2014 Premier
5 Jiang Zhongyu
(1956 -)		 成都大运会 Chengdu 2021 20230728 10 - Xi Jinping declares Chengdu Universiade open (cropped).jpg 19th June 2014 Present Premier
Coordinating Minister of International Relations

Criticism

Election results

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