Mao Authoritarianism Ch 4

Mao's Establishment of an Authoritarian State

• Key Question: How did Mao impose his authority on China?

  • Mao declared the People's Republic of China (PRC) on October 1, 1949, establishing a one-party state; the citizens were expected to conform to the government's directives.

Structure of the PRC

• Divided into six regions, each governed by four officials:

  • Chairman

  • Party Secretary

  • Military Commander (from PLA)

  • Political Commissar (from PLA)

  • Command structure ensured military control over governance.

Government Claims and Reality

• Official claims stated all power rested with the people; however, only the Communist Party (CCP) could run for election.

• Politburo: Inner circle led by Mao Zedong, executing actual power;

  • Mao's approval was required for any policy, ensuring his ultimate control.

The Imposition of Military Control

• The government enforced control through military campaigns in 1950 to suppress independence movements:

  • Campaigns in Tibet, Xinjiang, and Guangdong were labeled 'reunification' efforts.

  • Created fear through 'anti-movements' targeting bourgeois elements:

  • Establishment of dangan (dossiers) on individuals, monitoring dissent.

Korean War Impact

• Mao supported North Korea against US-backed South Korea after invasion in 1950, reinforcing national solidarity.

• Mao argued against focusing solely on internal issues, emphasizing external threats as justification for increased loyalty to the state.

Anti-Landlord Campaign

• Campaigns designed to dismantle landlord power followed by confiscation and redistribution of their lands.

  • Many landlords faced public trials; estimates suggest up to 1 million were killed.

The '100 Flowers' Campaign (1957)

• Mao's attempt to encourage criticism within the Party:

  • Initially invited dissent but rapidly retracted when criticisms grew severe;

  • Thousands labeled as 'rightists' faced imprisonment after expressing views.

  • Historians debate if this was a genuine call for criticism or a manipulative strategy by Mao.

Mao's Dual Intentions

• Mao's Approach: Objective to expose and eliminate dissent;

  • Encouraged intellectuals to speak against bureaucratic corruption but subsequently punished them for speaking out.

• Campaign outcome revealed Mao's fear of internal opposition, leading to an exacerbated culture of fear and suppression.

Economic Policies

Five-Year Plan

• Implemented to advance industrialization in China post-1949, relying heavily on Soviet support.

• Mao’s vision aimed to develop an industrial power rapidly through collective efforts but ultimately backfired due to unrealistic expectations.

The Great Leap Forward (1958-62)

• Ambitious collective farming and mass steel production program:

  • Led to severe famine due to crop production decreases;

  • Reports indicate around 40 million people died from starvation caused by both bad policy and mismanagement.

Cultural Revolution (1966-76)

Motives Behind the Cultural Revolution

• Mao's paranoia about losing power and wanting to maintain revolutionary fervor among the masses.

• Cultural Revolution aimed at eliminating perceived opposition within the Party and government, purging 'reactionaries' and 'capitalist roaders'.

Key Campaigns during Cultural Revolution

• 'Four Olds' Campaign: Attack on old customs, culture, habits, and thoughts, led chiefly by Red Guards who were fervently loyal to Mao.

• Struggle Sessions: Public humiliations used against intellectuals and party officials accused of betrayal. Many faced brutal treatment and deaths.

The Role of the Red Guards and PLA

• Red Guards committed widespread violence, vandalism, and suppression of dissent against anyone suspected of counter-revolutionary thoughts;

• The PLA eventually took over to restore order as internal conflicts peaked.

Laogai Labor Camp System

• Established a system of labor camps aimed at re-education through hard labor, imprisoning suspected dissidents:

  • Conditions were brutal, resulting in millions of deaths due to harsh treatment and starvation (over 25 million reported dead).

Conclusion

• Mao's rule drastically transformed Chinese society through authoritarian control, military enforcement, and cultural repression, illustrating the extreme measures taken to maintain power and suppress dissent.