Der Spiegel speculates that Beijing is alarmed by the recent popular uprisings in the Arab world and may have the seeds of unrest in Chongqing. The fous of their worries is Bo Xilai, 61, the Communist Party secretary for Chongqing. Bo’s governments is promoting Maoist populism and culture. Bo’s Mao quotes sound more politically correct than the slogan, influenced by Confucianism, about a “harmonious society” invoked by Beijing. .
It’s a new morning in Chongqing, a major city in southwest China. In a city park, the sound of “Oh, red song” can be heard coming from dozens of voices. The singers are sitting on green and white plastic stools. A few meters away, another group of citizens who apparently love to sing are practicing the revolutionary hymn “Zuguo, nihao!” or “Hello, Fatherland!”
The amateur neighborhood choirs have gathered in front of wooden signs that are placed through the park and encourage citizens to sing “red songs.” Elsewhere in Chongqing, the political culture that the Great Leader Mao Zedong once used to provoke China’s masses to embark on permanent revolution is blossoming once again.
The city’s radio and television stations are also broadcasting revolutionary songs, and instead of the entertainment shows that used to be its customary fare, one channel is showing prime-time documentaries about the historical achievements of the Communist Party. Local newspapers are also firing up the revolutionary campaign.