The significance of the Great Leap Forward

Mao’s intentions

·      2nd five-year plan 1958-62 turn PRC into a modern industrial state v. quickly by revolutionising agriculture and industry and catching up with major nations economically - China to overtake Britain in less than 15 yrs. - Hence 'leap' - by pass normal stages of economic development. 'Walking on two legs' - Agriculture & industry to expand simultaneously - emphasis on heavy industry/ large scale projects e.g. dams, bridges, canals - Mao's visits propaganda - ‘the emperor of the blue ants’

·      Mao had a great belief in mass mobilisation - 'Politics in Charge' -mass enthusiasm more important than technical expertise

·      Determined to match Soviet achievement- but without following their methods - China to be self - reliant

Main features of the GLF

·      Collectivisation of agriculture - 750,000 collectives amalgamated into 26,000 Communes between 1956-58. private farming ceased- Communes imposed on Chinese peasantry - militarisation of peasant work force - family life destroyed.

·      State owned enterprises (SEO's) - Industry placed under govn. direction - no private ownership - Prices/output/targets/ wages set by state. No incentives. China lacked technical & managerial skills, efficiently run factories and a transport system.

·      Back yard furnaces — small family kilns - 'learning by doing'. 1958 49% steel produced from small furnaces.
Homemade variety of steel useless - smelted down useful household & agricultural implements - labourers taken from agriculture - resulted in decline of agricultural production.

·      Politically inspired slogans passed for planning -Mao blamed failures on 'bourgeois' sabotage, although in fact, economic strategy was flawed. Targets set not based on sound economic analysis - raised to impress Mao. Officials lied and exaggerated production figures to please Mao. Loss of statisticians in 1957 'rightist' clamp down.

·      Lysenkoism - official policy after 1958 - ideas later admitted to be worthless. 'Four No's campaign' - rats/sparrows/flies/ mosquitoes. Led to plague of caterpillars - sparrows later replaced by bed bugs - disastrous.

Consequences

·      De forestation and pollution as a result of backyard furnaces - heavy environmental price for unsuccessful policy.

·      Famine - 40 mill died - led to cannibalism.

·      Lushan Conference - Mao's policies criticised by Peng Dehuai - Mao's reputation damaged - In 1962 Mao withdrew from political frontline. President Liu Shaoqi and CCP Gen. Sec. Deng Xiaoping instructed to bring an end to the rural crisis and restore adequate food supplies.
Wholesale social breakdown threatened 1960-61 - martial law imposed.

·      Liu Shaoqi, Zhou Enlai and Deng Xiaoping moderated economic policies - private plots restored and a limited market economy developed. Communes divided into smaller units. Shift of emphasis to light industry - hierarchy, respect for experts and wage differentials restored - providing incentives.

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