“Big Brother” with Chinese Characteristics
Comparative Rhetoric: Xi Jinping VS. George Orwell's 1984
(1)
“The purpose of ideological and political work is to reinforce Marxism's guiding role in shaping people's ideological understanding.” — Xi Jinping, 2016
“But if thought corrupts language, language can also corrupt thought.” — George Orwell, 1984
Implications:
Both emphasize that control over language shapes cognition. For Xi, ideology must guide all cultural and educational production.
(2)
“Without the Communist Party, there would be no China.” — (Repetitively embedded in daily Chinese life by the CCP since 1949)
“War is peace. Freedom is slavery. Ignorance is strength.” — George Orwell, Party slogan in 1984
Implications:
Both use emotionally charged, absolute slogans to replace complex thought with pure emotional obedience. While Orwell’s slogans justify endless war to create peace, portray individual freedom as weakness, and frame ignorant submission as strength, the CCP’s slogans are comparatively milder, casting the Party as a benevolent creator, savior, and “mother.”
Order of a Social Body No.9, 185 x 248cm, by WANG Guofeng, 2013
(3)
“We must cultivate a new generation that inherits the red gene.” — Xi Jinping, 2018 National Education Conference
“Orthodoxy means not thinking, not needing to think. Orthodoxy is unconsciousness.” — George Orwell, 1984
Implications:
Xi’s emphasis on “red gene” inheritance promotes ideological conformity at the expense of individual critical thinking, echoing Orwell’s concept of “unconscious orthodoxy.” Beyond reinforcing collective obedience, Xi's narrative implicitly stratifies society into two classes: a privileged elite descended from CCP cadres (Xi himself among them) and a subordinate class comprising the rest. This ideological hierarchy has also been cited as a rationale behind the crazy organ harvesting to serve elite interests in China.
(4)
“Revolutionary traditional education must start from early childhood, combining the transmission of the message with emotional cultivation. The goal is to embed 'red genes' into the blood and heart, guiding young people to internalize a unified correct worldview, outlook on life, and system of values.” — Xi Jinping, 2021
“Big Brother is watching you.” — George Orwell, 1984
Implications:
Both seek to erase independent thought and normalize surveillance and early childhood political discipline. Orwell depicts it as overtly oppressive, while Xi frames loyalty training as the moral and emotional foundation for a unified “healthy” value system, executed under an AI-supported far more sophisticated control mechanism.
(5)
“To destroy a nation, one must first erase its history.” — Xi Jinping, 2015
“We must intensify positive-only propaganda and message infiltration through various means.” — Xi Jinping, 2021
“Who controls the past controls the future. Who controls the present controls the past.” — George Orwell, 1984
Implications:
Rewriting history becomes a strategic tool for thought control. Xi’s regime has systematically revised textbooks and censored historical narratives to highlight only glorified depictions of the CCP, closely echoing Orwell’s Ministry of Truth.
Citations
Xi, J. (2016, August). Ideological work is about consolidating the guiding role of Marxism in the ideological sphere [Speech excerpt]. People’s Daily. (Author’s translation).
Chinese Communist Party. (1949–present). Without the Communist Party, there would be no New China [Political slogan]. People’s Daily. (Author’s translation).
Xi, J. (2018, September). We must cultivate generation after generation who will carry forward the red gene [Speech at the National Education Conference]. People’s Daily. (Author’s translation).
Xi, J. (2021, July). Revolutionary tradition education must start from early childhood, combining knowledge transmission with emotional cultivation, so that red genes seep into the blood and heart, guiding youth to develop the correct worldview, outlook on life, and values [Speech excerpt]. People’s Daily. (Author’s translation).
Xi, J. (2015, June). To destroy a nation, one must first erase its history [Speech excerpt]. People’s Daily. (Author’s translation).
Xi, J. (2021, January). We must intensify positive-only propaganda and message infiltration through various means [Speech excerpt]. People’s Daily. (Author’s translation).
习近平和中共宣传语录
“意识形态工作就是巩固马克思主义在意识形态领域指导地位的工作。” (2016, Xi)
“没有共产党，就没有新中国。“（1949年以来，中共不断重复这个口号，将其融入到每个中国人的日常生活中）
“要培养一代又一代传承红色基因的信任。”（2018年习近平在全国教育大会的讲话）
“革命传统教育要从娃娃抓起，既注重知识灌输，又加强情感培育，使红色基因渗进血液、浸入心扉，引导广大青少年树立正确的世界观、人生观、价值观。”（习近平，2021）
“灭人之国，必先去其史。’” 要通过多种方式加大正面宣传教育” “把党的历史作为各级各类学校思想政治课的重要内容，开展形式多样的党的历史知识、光荣传统和优良作风、英雄模范事迹的教育，从小培养青少年热爱党、热爱社会主义的感情，极为重要，任何时候都不可忽视。” (2010 全国党史工作会议)