APW Chapter 12 Part 2

  • Initially, China aimed to follow the Soviet model of socialist modernization with key variations.

  • Collectivization of agriculture in China during the 1950s was a generally peaceful process due to the close relationship between the Chinese Communist Party and the peasantry, established over three decades.

  • China pushed collectivization further than the Soviet Union did, particularly with large "people’s communes" in the late 1950s, aiming for:

    • Mobilization of China’s population for rapid development.

    • A fully communist society with enhanced social equality and collective living.

  • The Great Leap Forward (1958–1960) was Mao's response to distortions of Chinese socialism:

    • Promoted simultaneous growth in agriculture and industry.

    • Encouraged small-scale industrialization in rural areas rather than large enterprises.

    • Aimed for widespread technological education and transition to full communism in communes.

    • Resulted in a massive famine (30 million lives lost) due to poor-quality goods and administrative chaos.

    • Mao stepped down as head of state but remained as party chairman.

  • Mid-1960s: Launch of the Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution to combat capitalist trends within the Communist Party:

    • Focused on improving health care and education in rural areas.

    • Made efforts towards rural industrialization under local control.

    • Faced challenges in overcoming inequalities linked to China's modernization.

  • China under Mao engaged in a significant search for perceived enemies, akin to Stalin's approach in the Soviet Union:

    • During the Cultural Revolution (1966–1969), Mao encouraged rebellion within the Communist Party.

    • Replacement of skeptical officials with supporters of Mao's radical agenda.

    • Formation of Red Guards, who targeted intellectuals and government officials.

    • Resulted in nationwide violence and civil war threats, leading to military intervention to restore order.

  • The chaos during Stalin's Terror and the Cultural Revolution severely discredited revolutionary socialism and contributed to the collapse of the communist experiment by the end of the 20th century.