politics in mao’s era. birth of “new china” civil war in 1949 january, beijing/tianjin fell to...
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Politics in Mao’s Era
Birth of “New China” Civil War in 1949
January, Beijing/Tianjin fell to CCP April, Nanking fell to CCP May, Shanghai fell to CCP
Founding of the “People’s Republic” Sept. Chinese People’s Political Consultative
Conference (CPPCC) Common Program Beijing – capital of the new state Five-star flag
The Common Program PRC’s proto-constitution PRC a people’s democracy People in PRC are the following
Workers Peasants Petty bourgeoisie National bourgeoisie
Enemies of state in the PRC are: landlords
People vs Enemies of State Enemies of state in the PRC are:
Landlords Bureaucratic capitalists KMT reactionaries
Use of class labels Members of society classified based on
family wealth, own history & social/political affiliation
Poor and lower middle peasants Rich peasants landlords
People vs Enemies of State Use of class labels
Workers Peddlers Shop owners
Facts about class labels Class labels assigned to everyone Class labels assigned for life Class labels hereditary
People vs Enemies of State Political Use of class labels
Class labels divide the society into two separate camps
Class labels determine who to include and who to exclude in:
Job assignment Education Promotion Distribution of resources
Establishing State Authority Political Campaigns
Land Reform & Land Redistribution 1948-1950 Undermine the economic power of the
landlords Disenfranchise the landlord class politically
Resist the US and Aid Korea 1950 -1953 Eliminate pro-America & pro-West
sentiments Rally nation against an external enemy Foster nationalism
Establishing State Authority Political Campaigns
Suppression of Counter-revolutionaries Eliminate secret societies Eliminate resistance from forces against
the Communist regime Eliminate whoever who questioned the
Communist rule Eliminate societal elements deemed as a
hindrance to socialist transformation Drug dealers Pimps
Establishing State Authority Political Campaigns
Suppression of Counter-revolutionaries Eliminate societal elements deemed as a
hindrance to socialist transformation Drug dealers Pimps Prostitutes Hooligans, thugs, fortune tellers
“Three-anti-five-anti” campaigns Three-anti
Anti-corruption
Establishing State Authority Political Campaigns
“Three-anti-five-anti” campaigns Three-anti
Anti-corruption Anti-waste Anti-bureaucracy
Five-anti Anti-bribery Anti tax evasion Anti fraud Anti theft of government property Anti theft of state economic secrets
Establishing State Authority Political Campaigns
The Hundred Flower Campaign: 1957Discontent was rising in China
Forced collectivization Nationalization Lack of freedom of expression
Riots in Soviet bloc countries Khrushchev's de-Stalinization Hungarian Crisis
Mao’s intention To ease tensions in Chinese society To ease popular discontent towards CCP
Establishing State Authority Political Campaigns
The Hundred Flower Campaign: 1957Mao’s assumption
Chinese people were unlike Hungarians
Chinese people shared same interests as CCP
Chinese people identified with CCP and CCP objectives
People’s views are “non-antagonistic”Mao’s two internal speeches
One in 1956 One in 1957
Establishing State Authority Political Campaigns
The Hundred Flower Campaign: 1957 Initial Societal Response
Deafening silence (disbelief) Cautious criticism
Larger role for CPPCC & minority parties
More foreign academic journalsActive Response
Beijing University, big posters Intellectuals joined the criticism
Establishing State Authority Political Campaigns
Active ResponseBeijing University, big posters Intellectuals joined the criticismEntire society joined the criticism
Major CriticismsCommunist state is simply another
feudal dynastyCCP is estranged from the massesOfficials are not “servants of
people”
Establishing State Authority Political Campaigns
Major CriticismsCCP members are “flatterers,
sycophants, and yes-men”Marxism-Leninism should not be
dogmaCollectivism hinders production“Volunteer” work is a nuisanceLife was better under KMTCCP should not monopoly powerMulti-party election ensures
democracy
Establishing State Authority Hundred Flower Campaign
Mao and CCP Response Initiation of Anti-Rightist campaign Who were “Rightists”?
Some 500,000 people Nation’s best & brightest
intellectuals, scholars, professors, scientists, students
Punishment Jail term Labor camp Demotion, excommunication,
banishment to rural areas
Establishing State Authority Hundred Flower Campaign
Punishment Effect of Punishment
Family breakup Stigma on entire family Disenfranchisement of entire family Life as social outcasts
Was “hundred flower” a conspiracy? Did Mao intend to lure the opponents to
expose themselves initially? Or did he under-estimate public
sentiments towards the CCP?
Establishing State Authority Hundred Flower Campaign
Was “hundred flower” a conspiracy? Did Mao intend to lure the opponents to
expose themselves initially? Or did he under-estimate public
sentiments towards the CCP? What does Prof. Dreyer say?
Establishing State Authority Hundred Flower Campaign
Was “hundred flower” a conspiracy? Did Mao intend to lure the opponents to
expose themselves initially? Or did he under-estimate public
sentiments towards the CCP?
Establishing State Authority Hundred Flower Campaign
The Case of Harry Wu A college student in 1957 Voiced criticism of Soviet invasion of
Hungry Voiced criticism of the CCP Condemned as a “counter-revolutionary
rightist” Sent to labor camp for 19 years Beaten, tortured and almost starved to
death
http://www.echofoundation.org/wu/wu_biography.htm
Economic Transformation The Great Leap Forward, 1958 - 1961
Why “Leap”Mao’s impatience with slow growthLimitation of Soviet modelPopulation an asset of growthSputnik & Khrushchev
Short-term ObjectivesIron-steel production Coal production
Long-term ObjectivesIncrease of productive power
Economic Transformation The Great Leap Forward, 1958 - 1961
ApproachesMass mobilizationDiversion of labor to steel productionCreation of People’s Communes
ConsequencesGrain production dropSevere market supply of necessitiesStrict rationing system implementedStarvation swept across the nationPeasant death in large numbers
Economic Transformation The Great Leap Forward, 1958 - 1961
Unprecedented Environmental DamagesForest devastationDesertification in animal farming
regionsRivers running dry in lower valleys Assault on sparrowsWildlife devastation (Mongolian
gazelles)
Intra-Party Conflicts Evaluating the “Leap”
The Lushan Conference, 1959Marshal Peng Dehuai & Mao
Peng’s letter “Leap” a waste of labor “Leap” counter-productive“leap” a violation of economic
lawsMao’s response
Oust Peng as defense ministerPeng condemned as “anti-
Party”
Cultural Revolution 1962 Expanded Party Conference
Objective of ConferenceEvaluate Party leadership & work since
1958Reaffirm economic consolidation policyReaffirm production restoration
measuresDifferences on Party Responsibility
Liu ShaoqiParty leadership failure mainly
responsible
Cultural Revolution 1962 Expanded Party Conference
Differences on Party Responsibility Liu Shaoqi Lin Biao
Economic fiascos results of failure to follow Mao’s instructions
Mao leadership flawless. Socialist Education Campaign
Mao: Officials are becoming corrupt Socialist China is in danger of capitalist
restoration
Cultural Revolution CCP Leadership in Early 1966
Mao Tsetung: Chmn of CCP Central Committee
Liu Shaoqi: President of PRCZhou Enlai: Prime MinisterLin Biao: Vice Premier, & Defense
Minister Jiang Qing: Mao’s wife
Mao’s Economic Policy Collective economy is unshakable Individual production, hotbed of capitalism
Cultural Revolution Mao’s Economic Policy Mao’s Foreign Policy
China should struggle with revisionist USSR China should struggle with the entire West China should support world revolution
Mao’s Education Policy Formal education should be reformed Education be combined with labor Suspension of int’l educational exchanges
Mao’s Policy towards Intellectuals Ideological reform of intellectuals
Cultural Revolution Liu’s Economic Policy
China-foreign economic relations desirable Mixed economy serves socialist objectives
Liu’s Education Policy Formal & informal education equally
important Int’l educational exchanges important
Liu’s Policy towards Intellectuals Intellectual activities respected
Cultural Revolution Liu’s Downfall
August, 1966: 2nd to 8th in ranking Sept – Oct, 1966: public humiliation Nov, 1966: disappearance from public Oct, 1968: excommunication from CCP 1969: died in house arrest
Liu’s Family Wife: accused of being an American spy;
life imprisonment (changed from death sentence)
Eldest son: suicide
Cultural Revolution Interpreting Cultural Revolution
Factional Model Mao vs Liu
Political Culture Model Tradition of authoritarian politics
Palace Politics Model Mao Liu Lin Politics of succession
Cultural RevolutionAftermaths of Cultural
RevolutionPolitical crisis
Political succession crisis Death of Lin Biao
Mao’s prestige erodingEconomic stagnation
Rationing system permanentProduction hardly matching population
growth
Cultural RevolutionAftermaths of Cultural
Revolution International relations
US-China relations Nixon’s visit in 1972 Ford’s visit in 1975
China-USSR relations 1950 military alliance Soviet model & Sino-Soviet friendship Sino-Soviet ideological differences Sino-Soviet military clashes 1969
Cultural RevolutionAftermaths of Cultural
Revolution International relations
US-China relationsChina-USSR relationsChina-Europe relations
1964 Beijing-Paris diplomatic relations 1966, burning of British mission in Beijing
China-Asia relations Indonesia North Korea
Cultural RevolutionAftermaths of Cultural
RevolutionEducation
Disruption of formal educationSuspension of int’l educational tiesClose of universities and colleges
Abolition of college entrance tests
Major Actors in 1975 - 1976
Mao Tsetung Zhou Enlai Deng Xiaoping
Deputy prime ministerA reformer
Jiang Qing & “Gang of Four” Jiang: Mao’s wife
Major Actors in 1975 - 1976 Jiang Qing & “Gang of Four”
Jiang: Mao’s wife “Gang of Four” (Shanghai clique)
Jiang Qing Zhang Chunqiao Wang Hongwen Yao Wenyuan
Hua Guo-feng Deputy Prime Minister 1st Vice Chairman and Prime Minister
Major Actors in 1975 - 1976
Cultural Revolution (CR) BeneficiariesMao Jiang Qing“Gang of Four”Hua Guofeng
CR VictimsDeng XiaopingYe Jianying
PRC in 1976-1978 End of Mao Era
Sept. 9, 1976, death of MaoOct. 6, 1976, arrest of “Gang of 4”
Rise of Hua GuofengHua: Chairman of CCP & Premier
Policy DebateHua: “two whatevers”Deng: “Seek truth from facts”
PRC in 1976-1978 3rd Plenum of 11th Party Congress
Nov-Dec 1978Decisions
Rehabilitate CR victimsSuspend Mao’s mass class strugglesInitiate economic reformInitiate open policyReorient Party work on economic
modernization
PRC in 1976-1978 Rise of Deng Xiaoping
Four modernizationsEducation reform
Formal educationStandard testsRestoration of university educationAdmission based on academic
performanceRestoration of int’l educational
exchanges
PRC in 1976-1978 Rise of Deng Xiaoping
Four modernizationsEducation reform Intellectual Policy
Socialist mental workers Int’l Economic Relations