Name: Le Quang Nhan – Department of East Asian Studies – Delhi University

Subject: Chinese Politics and Government - Assignment

Bo Xilai: Life and His Career

Introduction:
The political landscape of China has been significantly impacted by the famous Chinese
politician Bo Xilai. Bo Xilai, one of the founding members of the Communist Party of China,
was born on July 3, 1949, in Dingxiang County, Shanxi Province (“Profile: Bo Xilai” 2013).
Bo Xila’s complicated personality and his influence on Chinese politics are reflected in his
interesting and contentious life and career. To give insight into Bo Xilai’s ascent to power, his
achievements, and the controversies that surrounded his career, this paper examines his life
and works.

Early Life and Education:

Bo Xilai was raised with a strong commitment to the values of the Chinese Communist Party.
He was raised around politics since he was the son of a soldier of the revolution. His political
ideals and aspirations were significantly shaped by the influence of his father. Bo Xilai joined
the Chinese Communist Party in 1973 and rose fast through the ranks (Ramzy 2012). Bo
Xilai went to Peking University and majored in history. He had a reputation for being
politically astute and ambitious throughout his time in college (Campbell, Raushenbush, and
Economy, 2012). Later, his political techniques and ideas were influenced by his academic
training and deep knowledge of Chinese history and culture.

Prominent Political Career:

When Bo Xilai was mayor of Dalian in Liaoning Province in the early 1980s, his political
career officially got underway. During his direction, Dalian’s economy and urbanisation
expanded quickly. Bo Xilai carried out several measures to entice foreign capital, advance
tourism, and revive the city’s industrial sector (Bo, n.d.). He developed a reputation as a
skilled and energetic leader as a result of his achievements in Dalian. Bo Xilai was named
minister of commerce in 2001, where he worked to further China’s economic reforms and
improve connections with other countries on a trading level. He was influential in negotiating
trade deals with several nations and played a key role in China’s admission to the World
Trade Organization (WTO) (“WTO”, n.d.).

Bo Xilai’s career turned around when he was appointed Chongqing Municipality’s

Communist Party Secretary in 2007, catapulting him to the national stage. During his
administration, he began an extensive initiative called the “Chongqing model” to combat
corruption, advance social welfare, and revive the city’s economy. To rekindle the spirit of
revolution among the populace, the campaign included a crackdown on organised crime,
large social housing projects, and the promotion of “red culture” (“Timeline: Bo Xilai’s
political career” 2012). These measures drew both acclaim and condemnation.
Corruption and Downfall:
Bo Xilai, the Communist Party’s local head at the time, launched a campaign to inspire the
populace with songs glorifying Mao, as was done during the Cultural Revolution (“Bo Xilai’s
legacy in Chongqing - Reporters” 2013). As a fanatical Red Guard, he joined Mao’s
revolutionary cause but was imprisoned for a while as a teenager. He is alleged to have
violently confronted his father, the seasoned Communist leader Bo Yibo. Yet, he depended on
his father’s lobbying to launch his political career, much like many of the so-called
princelings, who are the offspring of high-ranking party leaders. Yet, as Bo Xilai has fallen
from favour and is currently facing a corruption prosecution, his name has come to be
associated with evil. Despite this, the “Chongqing model” he put into place shaped later
policies and generated discussions about China’s future governance. Some groups in society
connected with his emphasis on social welfare and the resurgence of revolutionary spirit,
which opposed the dominant neoliberal. Bo spearheaded the effort to resurrect Maoism while
serving as the party secretary for the Chongqing Province. He mistreated his subordinates and
expected praise in return. He took on organised crime head-on while running Chongqing like
a mafia lord. In addition, he practised corruption while fighting it. He also promoted old
Communist values as his son flaunted his wealth at prestigious foreign universities. (2013)
McElveen disliked Western-style democracy yet democratically ran for office.

Bo Xilai’s career took a catastrophic turn in 2012 despite his early success and popularity
when his wife, Gu Kailai, was charged with murdering British businessman Neil Heywood.
Bo Xilai’s reputation was damaged by the incident, which also caused his expulsion from the
Communist Party and eventual incarceration. Bo Xilai was sentenced to life in prison after
being found guilty of corruption, abuse of position, and bribery in a high-profile trial in 2013
(“Bo Xilai found guilty of corruption by Chinese court” 2013). Bo Xilai’s demise revealed
the political rivalries and power struggles that exist inside the Chinese Communist Party and
brought attention to the systemic corruption that permeates its ranks. His case sent
shockwaves across the political system and served as a warning to aspiring politicians.

Conclusion:
Bo Xilai was a divisive figure in China’s political scene because of his charismatic leadership
style, ambitious plans, and willingness to question the existing quo. His populist platform
won him favour with some sections of the populace, but others saw him as a challenge to the
Communist Party’s ruling class and dreaded his expanding power. Bo’s demise, which was
brought on by a scandal involving his wife and corruption, served as a lesson for subsequent
leaders who want to assemble power and stray from the party line.

Therefore, Bo’s legacy has continued to influence Chinese politics despite the crisis. The
government’s sustained emphasis on economic growth and poverty eradication is a reflection
of his support for state-led capitalist development and social policy. Additionally, the balance
between stability and change in China’s political system has been a topic of increased
discussion in light of his case. Ultimately, Bo Xilai’s life and career serve as an example of
the strengths and weaknesses of Chinese leaders who want to effect change and advance
society. His tale serves as a reminder of the difficulties the following generation of leaders
will face as well as the complicated and dynamic nature of Chinese politics.
 References

● Bo, April. n.d. “Bo Xilai: His Life, Political Career, Family, Ruthlessness And

Corruption.” Facts and Details. Accessed June 16, 2023.

https://factsanddetails.com/china/cat8/4sub1/item2251.html.

● “Bo Xilai was found guilty of corruption by a Chinese court.” 2013. BBC.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-24170726.

● “Bo Xilai’s legacy in Chongqing - Reporters.” 2013. France 24.

https://www.france24.com/en/20130823-2013-08-23-1010-reporters-china-bo-xilai-ch

ongqing-growth-communist-party.

● Campbell, Heidi, Paul B. Raushenbush, and Elizabeth C. Economy. 2012. “China’s

Leadership Shift in Disarray.” Council on Foreign Relations.

https://www.cfr.org/interview/chinas-leadership-shift-disarray.

● McElveen, Ryan. 2013. “Opinion | Bo Xilai’s Poisonous Legacy.” The New York

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https://www.nytimes.com/2013/08/23/opinion/global/bo-xilais-poisonous-legacy.html.

● “Profile: Bo Xilai.” 2013. BBC.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-19709555.

● Ramzy, Austin. 2012. “Chinese Political Star Bo Xilai Is Removed from Post |

TIME.com.”

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om-post/.

● “Timeline: Bo Xilai’s political career.” 2012. South China Morning Post.

https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/1040003/timeline-bo-xilais-political-career.

● “Wto.” n.d. China Daily. Accessed June 16, 2023.

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