Glossary — C

Glossary terms beginning with C.

cabildo: A town council in the colonial period, usually composed of the most prominent citizens.
cadre: The term for responsible party, government, and economic functionaries; also used for key officials in the educational, cultural, and scientific fields.
caliph: Title of honor adopted by the Ottoman sultans in the sixteenth century, after Sultan Selim I conquered Syria and Palestine, made Egypt a satellite of the Ottoman Empire, and was recognized as guardian of the holy cities of Mecca and Medina. Term literally means ""successor""; in this context, the successor of the Prophet Muhammad.; Source: Library of Congress
Cambas: Natives of the lowlands who often look with disdain on highlanders (kollas--q.v.).; Source: Library of Congress
campesino: A Latin American Indian farmer or farm laborer.; Source: Library of Congress
Cao Dai: Indigenous Vietnamese religion centered in Tay Ninh Province, southern Vietnam. It was founded and initially propagated by Ngo Van Chieu, a minor official who, in 1919, claimed to have had a series of revelations. The faith grew under the leadership of Le Van Trung, its first ""pope"" or Supreme Chief, chosen in 1925. Doctrinally, the religion is a syncretic blend of Christianity, Buddhism, Taoism, Confuciancism and Western nineteenth-century romanticism. Before the fall of Saigon, the Cao Dai had about 1 to 2 million adherents.
capital account: A section of the balance of payments accounts that records short-term and long-term capital flows.
capital formation: Creation of new capital or the expansion of existing capital, during a fiscal period, normally financed by savings.
capital goods: A factor of production category consisting of manufactured products used in the process of production.; Source: Library of Congress
capital market: An institutional system of communications, vested largely in the security exchanges, where lenders and borrowers interact with a view to transacting or trading.
capital-intensive production: A high ratio of capital to labor and other resources used in the production process.
capitulations: Special agreements between the Ottoman Empire and various foreign governments giving those governments and their citizens and subjects specific exemptions from the laws of the empire.
Carpatho-Ukraine (also Subcarpathian Ruthenia): An area once part of Czechoslovakia but ceded to the Soviet Union after World War II. Populated mostly by Ukrainians, who prior to World War II were sometimes referred to as Ruthenians.
Carta di Lavoro: This electoral model involves ""functional representation"" by corporate groups; that is, instead of having direct elections for the national legislature by districts or by proportional representation, elections are indirect within corporate management and labor unions.; Source: Library of Congress
cay: In Belize low island or reef of sand or coral. The customary spelling in the United States, key, is not used in Belize.; Source: Library of Congress
CCN: Crusada Civilista Nacional (National Civic Crusade). Business-led coalition that organized popular civic opposition to government and FDP (q.v.) in 1987 demonstrations and unrest.
central (pl., centrale): Large industrial associations created by economic reforms in the late 1960s ostensibly to assume some of the decision-making authority of the various economic ministries. They had little real autonomy.
Central America: Here used in a geographic sense. Central America is considered to be the entire isthmus between Mexico and Colombia, including present-day Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Panama. A more traditional political view of the term, most often used in the region itself, is that Central America encompasses only the five successor states to the United Provinces of Central America (1821-38): Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica.
Central American Common Market (CACM): The CACM was established by the Organization of Central American States under the General Treaty of Central American Economic Integration signed in Managua, Nicaragua, on December 15, 1960. Its members include Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua. Its original goals included the establishment of a Central American regional free-trade area, a customs union, and the integration of the industrialization efforts of its member countries. Its efforts were curtailed following the 1969 war between El Salvador and Honduras, when the Hondurans reestablished import duties on CACM products. Despite the continued existence of the organization, most intraregional economic relations have been handled on a bilateral basis since 1970.
Central Bank: Usually a federal government-related institution that is entrusted with control of the commercial banking system and with the issuance of the currency. Responsible for setting the level of credit and money supply in an economy and serving as the bank of last resort for other banks. Also has a major impact on interest rates, inflation, and economic output. Under Article 97 of the constitution, the Central Bank of Chile is an autonomous body.
Central Bank Council: The seventeen-member decision-making body of the Bundesbank (q.v.). The council includes the presidents of the Land central banks (q.v.) and the members of the Directorate (q.v.). The council meets every second Thursday.
CFA franc: The African Financial Community (Communauté Financière Africaine) franc, the currency of the organization of former French colonies, often referred to as the Franc Zone. The CFA franc was guaranteed by the French treasury and pegged to the French franc, into which it was freely convertible. In December 1988 the exchange rate was CFA F298 to US$1.
CFZ: Colón Free Zone. Free-trade zone in Panama. Goods from foreign countries are landed and stored or repackaged there and shipped onward without being subject to Panama’s customs duties.
Ch'llima, or Ch'llima Work Team Movement: Intensive mass campaign to increase economic production inaugurated in 1958; began as Ch’llima Movement (Ch’llima Undong), named after the legendary Flying Horse said to have galloped a 1,000 li in a single day; a symbolic term for great speed. Farm and factory workers were exhorted to excel in the manner of Ch’llima riders, and exemplary individuals and work teams were awarded special Ch’llima titles. The labor force was organized into work teams and brigades and competed at increasing production. Superseded in the early 1960s by the Ch’ngsan-ni Method (q.v.) and the Taean Work System (q.v.), and then in 1973 by the Three Revolution Team Movement (q.v.).
Ch'ndogyo: Teachings of the Heavenly Way. This indigenous monotheistic religion was founded in the nineteenth century as a counter to Western influence and Christianity. Its Christian-influenced dogma stresses the equality and unity of man with the universe. Formerly Tonghak (Eastern Learning) Movement (q.v.).
Ch'ngsan-ni Method, or Ch'ngsan-ri: A personalized, ""on-the -spot"" management method or spirit reputedly developed by Kim Il Sung in February 1960 during a visit to the Ch’ngsan-ni Cooperative Farm in South P’yngan Province. In addition to important material incentives, the method has three main components: party and government functionaries must eschew their bureaucratic tendency of only issuing orders and directives; they must mingle with farmers and uncover and solve their problems through comradely guidance; and they should give solid technological guidance to spur efficient and productive achievement.
Ch'ondogyo: Teachings of the Heavenly Way, an indigenous monotheistic religion stressing the equality of man and the unity of man and the universe. Formerly Tonghak (q.v.), Ch’ondogyo had approximately 27,000 followers and 66 churches in South Korea in 1988.
chaebl: Korean translation of the Japanese word zaibatsu, or business conglomerate. A group of specialized (South Korean) companies with interrelated management servicing each other.
Cham: Also known as Chams, as Khmer Islam, and as Cham-Malay; a Muslim minority people.
Charter 77: The human rights documents around which Czech and Slovak dissidents have rallied since its signing in 1977.
Chemama: Northern bank of the Senegal River, extending sixteen to thirty-two kilometers north of the river and containing fertile alluvial soil.
chena: Slash-and-burn agriculture. Forest or shrub undergrowth is cleared by cutting and burning. Land is farmed until its productivity falls, then new area is cleared. This type of agriculture usually is associated with shifting cultivation.
chernozem: Russian word meaning black earth. Rich, highly fertile soil.; Source: Library of Congress
chi-bo: A party chapter composed of a collection of party cells (to dang), the lowest organizational echelon of the Indochinese and later the Vietnamese Communist Party.
chikalsi, or jikhalsi: Refers to a major city under the direct administration of the central government rather than a provincial governor. In 1992 there were three chikalsi: P’yngyang, Kaesng, and Namp’o.
Chilean peso: (Ch$) Chile’s currency. Replaced escudo on September 29, 1975, at a rate of 1,000 escudos per peso. Peso notes are for 500, 1,000, 5,000, and 10,000 pesos; coins are for 1, 5, 10, 50, and 100 pesos. Official exchange rate of Chilean peso was pegged to United States dollar until July 3, 1992, at a rate adjusted at daily intervals and determined by monthly rates of national and world inflation. On January 26, 1992, the Central Bank (q.v.) revalued the peso, reducing the official dollar exchange rate by 5 percent, which meant it dropped from 395 to 375 pesos. On July 3, 1992, the Central Bank, in a move designed to halt currency speculation, announced the peso would no longer be measured exclusively against the United States currency, but rather would use a basket of the dollar, the German mark, and the Japanese yen in a 50-30-20 ratio.
China Proper: Used broadly to mean China within the Great Wall, with its eighteen historic provinces. Divisible into two major, sharply contrasting regions, north China and south China. The dependencies on the north and west--Manchuria (now usually referred to as northeast China), Mongolia, Xizang (Tibet), and Xinjiang or Chinese Turkestan--were known in the imperial era as Outer China.
Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC): A quasi-constitutional united front (q.v.) organization that provides an institutional framework for interaction between party and state leaders and representatives of mass groups and democratic parties (q.v.). Members include distinguished scholars, educators, and intellectuals, key representatives of religious and minority nationality groups, and leading members of political parties loyal to the Chinese Communist Party during the anti-Guomindang years. The first CPPCC convened in 1949, the second in 1954, the third in 1959, the fourth in 1964, the fifth in 1978, and the sixth in 1983, the seventh was scheduled for 1988. The CPPCC’s 1949 Common Program served as the law of the land until superseded by the 1954 state constitution.
chip, or jip: The household, i.e., family members under one roof; the term k’nchip, or k’njip, meaning ""big house,"" refers to the ""main family"" of the eldest son, while the term chagnchip, or chagunjip, meaning ""little house,"" refers to the ""branch family"" households of the younger sons.
Chittagong Hill Tracts: Commonly used name for area comprising Rangamati, Khagrachari, and Bandarban regions in southeastern Bangladesh.; Source: Library of Congress
chngbo: Korean unit of land area measurement. One chngbo equals about 2.45 acres, or 0.99 hectare.
Choch'ongryn: Abbreviation for Chae Ilbon Chson In Ch’ong Yonhaphoe, literally General Association of Korean Residents in Japan. Members of this Japan-based association tend to be supportive of North Korea’s foreign policy and have kinship and financial ties to North Korea. Known as Chosen Soren in Japanese.
chokpo: The Korean word for a genealogical record, usually that of an entire clan tracing its ancestry to a common ancestor who lived several hundred years ago.
cholo: A term that has a variety of definitions and social implications. During colonial times, it was equivalent to mestizo but has evolved to include persons of mixed or pure native American ancestry who are trying to move up the social and economic ladder by observing various Hispanic cultural norms. Cholos speak Spanish in addition to an indigenous language. Choloficación (Cholofication) refers to the transition process from native American to mestizo status.
Christian Base Communities (Comunidades Eclesiales de Base--CEBs): Groups consisting of mostly poor Christian lay people through which advocates of liberation theology (q.v.) mainly work. Members of CEBs meet in small groups to reflect on Scripture and discuss the Bible’s meaning in their lives. They are introduced to a radical interpretation of the Bible, one employing Marxist terminology to analyze and condemn the wide disparities between the wealthy elite and the impoverished masses in most underdeveloped countries. This reflection often leads members to organize and improve their living standards through cooperatives and civic- improvement projects.
chuch'e, or juche: Political ideology promulgated by Kim Il Sung. The application of Marxism-Leninism to the North Korean experience based on autonomy and self-reliance popularized since 1955 as an official guideline for independence in politics, economics, national defense, and foreign policy.
chungin: The ""middle people""--a small group of technicians and administrators in traditional Korea, subordinate to the yangban (q.v.), that included astronomers, physicians, interpreters, legal; specialists, and artists.
CHW: Community Health Worker.
clan: A group whose members are descended in the male line from a putative common male ancestor (patriclan) or in the female line from a putative common female ancestor (matriclan--not reported in Ethiopia). Clans may be divided into subclans organized on the same principle or into lineages (q.v.) believed to be linked by descent from a remote common ancestor.
clan-family: A group of clans (q.v.) believed to be linked ultimately by descent from a common ancestor. The six major Somali clan-families are Daarood, Hawiye, Isaaq, Dir, Digil, and Rahanwayn.