Topic summary
United front (China)
(1945–1966)
(1966–1978)
The united front, officially named the patriotic united front, is a political strategy of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) involving networks of groups and key individuals that are influenced or controlled by the CCP and used to advance its interests. It has historically been a popular front that has included eight legally permitted political parties and people's organizations which have nominal representation in the National People's Congress and the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC).
The CCP first organized the "National Revolution United Front" during the of 1926–1928 and then the "Workers' and Peasants' Democratic United Front" in the Chinese Soviet Republic era of 1931–1937. Mao Zedong later promoted the "Anti-Japanese National United Front". During the Chinese Civil War, the CCP organized the "people's democratic united front" to overthrow the Kuomintang. In 1966, during the Cultural Revolution, the "people's democratic united front" was renamed to the "revolutionary united front". In 1979, it assumed its current name of "patriotic united front", further expanding its scope. Under CCP general secretaryXi Jinping, the united front and its targets of influence have expanded in size and scope.
United front organizations are managed primarily by the United Front Work Department (UFWD), but the united front strategy is not limited solely to the UFWD. All CCP cadres are required to engage in "united front work". CPPCC is considered to be the highest-ranking united front organization, being central to the system. Outside of China, the strategy involves numerous front organizations, which tend to obfuscate or downplay any association with the CCP.