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Владислав Гаврилов's avatar

That is very true.

I remember early post-soviet years when people still had an allergy to anything flashy.

American manner to smile without explicit reason was alien and seen as super manipulative.

If not for Americans people expected you to be from totalitarian sect or some hustler or have hidden sexual agenda.

Service was also believed to be inferior work no matter it was always well-paid.

People had a lot of rage to advertisement and to any marketing trick.

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钟建英's avatar

I understand that a major (if not the most important) quality sought in CPC cadres is the ability to "mobilise the masses" ('动员', dongyuan). I think it's the key to China's success in eradicating extreme poverty. Grassroots cadres go to each village or community, attend closely to their actual situation, and find solutions to '脱贫' (tuopin, eradicate poverty).

Sometimes, this involves getting the people to help build bridges, roads. Sometimes, it is about collective agriculture. In exceptional cases, they even move entire villages to more accessible locations. But in all cases, "mobilising the masses" is an inherently democratic process. The people get together and decide (with guidance from experts) how to improve their own lives.

Who cares about "charisma" in leaders!

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