Communism in China after the death of Mao 1976-1981

After Mao’s death

Hua Gaofeng was Mao’s chosen successor however was challenged in the Politburo by the Gao of Four - One member being Mao’s wife

The deciding factor was the army that supported Hua - Marshal Ye backed Hua and he remained prime minister and the Gang of Four was arrested in October 1976

1977 - Deng Xiaoping was rehabilitated - had many contacts and had not lost membership when he fell from power

1978 - Deng became chairman of the People’s Political Consultative Conference

October 1978 - Mao’s Little Red Book was denounced - the Cultural revolution was officially brought to an end

Who were the 3 potential options to be Mao’s successor?

Hua Guofeng - nominated by Mao - immediately succeeded to all the positions that Mao had held

Gang of Four - Led by Jiang Qing - Mao’s wife

Deng Xiaoping

Gang of Four

Believed they would be Mao’s natural successors

Jiang Qing had stood beside Hua when he read Mao’s eulogy at the memorial service in 1976 to show her self perceived importance

In 1976 - The Gang of Four were arrested for planning a coup - they overestimated their support within the army and were too unpopular in Beijing to have any kind of power

Democracy wall

Posters and characters were put up on a brick wall in Beijing in 1978

Became a place where people took up the government’s movement to “seek truth from facts”, expressing their opinion

Were former Red guards who missed out on education due to the Revolution

The movement gained support and gave a voice to those that had been repressed during the Cultural revolution - Criticised Mao and the Gang of Four

Deng supported this criticism - saw the people as potential allies during a time where there was conflict in the party

How did Deng come to power?

Appeared that Hua’s position was confirmed after the Gang of Four were removed but Deng had links with the PLA and lead party members which he used to his advantage

Deng was reinstated to the Politburo and used this to increasingly isolate Hua

His supporters within the party grew and earlier accusations of him criticising the party were dropped

1977 - He was CCP General secretary again - Hua continued as premier until 1978, but in a much weakened political position

In 1978 - CCP met for major meeting and Deng was confirmed as leader of China

What did Deng do in China?

Put forward the “Four Modernisations”: Agriculture, Industry, Defence and Education

He called for rapid development of the national economy, steady improvement in living standards, the speed up of farm production + adaptation of farming to local conditions

1981 - CCP central committee resolution stated that Mao had been a great leader but one who had made errors + stated that the cultural revolution had produced no useful results

How did Deng reform the Economy?

Deng was prepared to allow the Market into the Chinese economy

State Owned Enterprises would remain the basic way of organising businesses, but practical decisions would take importance over communist ideas

Deng also opened China up to foreign trade, ending Mao’s belief in self-sufficiency

How did Deng reform Agriculture?

Communes and collectivisation was abandoned and in 1981 - a new “household responsibility system” was introduced

Land was still owned collectively, but as long as peasants paid their taxes and contributed to local targets, they were allowed to sell excess for profit

Growing crops that were more suitable to local terrains were encouraged

Peasant families were allowed to farm the same land for generations due to state issued contracts

Was extremely successful with 98 percent of farming households adopting this system by 1984

Deng’s industrial policies

Deng sent thousands of students abroad to study

Government reduced its control over factories and large businesses - businesses began to seek profits

Special Economic Zones set up containing China’s export industries and foreign owned companies

Industrial Responsibility System encouraged the development of state owned enterprises allowing individuals or groups to manage the enterprise by contract

From 1981 - 1991 Chinese exports rose by 500% and inward investment rose by 400%

Work and employment under Deng

In 1981, some urban workers were allowed to look for Jobs for the first time

Contracting out of some services was also allowed for the first time

Deng wanted SOEs to become efficient and competitive

He wanted to provide inducements to work harder and believed that higher living standards would raise the morale of workers

Communist propaganda - Deng

1976 onwards - Propaganda was used to blacken the character of the Gang of Four - was blamed for excesses of the Cultural Revolution

Propaganda promoted “socialism with Chinese Characteristics”

Attempts made after the Cultural revolution during China’s recovery to revive traditional culture again were motivated economically

Social changes under Deng

The role of women, changes in education and the One Child policy

The role of women under Deng - Social changes

Attempts to give women greater equality and freedom

1980 Marriage Law banned arranged and force marriages

Adults - men and women - gained the right to lawful divorce

Law stated that marriage must be based upon the complete willingness of the two parties

Made daughters are valuable as sons - in regards to potential for old age insurance

In urban areas, the dowry custom had nearly disappeared

Unequal employment opportunities + unequal income continued between men and women

De-collectivisation restored the traditional sexual division of labour within rural households

Education under Deng - Social changes

Political activity was no longer regarded as an important measure of individual performance

Education policy had the long-term objective of universal primary and secondary education

1985 - plans for nine-year compulsory education and for good quality higher education were announced

Achievement was once again accepted as the basis for admission and promotion in education

Aims of Education reform

To improve and standardise elementary and middle school education

To increase the number of schools and qualified teachers

To develop vocational and technical education

The system of enrolment and job assignment in higher education was changed, and government control over colleges and universities was reduced

One child policy

By late 1970s - China’s population approached one billion - there was concern about effect this would have on economic growth

1979 - One child policy was introduced and was enforced by providing financial and employment incentives to those who complied

Contraceptives became widely available and people who broke the rules were fined

Forced abortions and sterilisation was also used at time - more strictly implemented in urban areas