After taking over, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) under Mao Zedong initially modeled itself after the Soviet Union.
The Soviets had rapidly industrialized through a series of Five-Year Plans, which focused on:
Government control of all resources.
Prioritizing industrialization.
China experienced growth using this model, but Mao eventually began to disagree with the Soviet Union's direction, particularly their anti-communist leanings.
In the 1960s and 1970s, China began to distance itself from Soviet influence.
Mao criticized the Soviets for incorporating:
Competitive features.
Wage incentives.
Expert involvement to enhance industry.
Mao viewed these elements as violations of the CCP's egalitarian principles and reinforced his Marxist policies.
The Great Leap Forward (1950s-1960s)
Mao launched the Great Leap Forward, a program focused on:
Small-scale industrialization.
Peasant production of industrial goods instead of urban factories.
The program also mandated large quantities of grain to be exported to the USSR in exchange for industrial equipment and resources that China failed to produce.
Consequences of the Great Leap Forward:
Mass starvation, leading to an estimated 20-50 million deaths.
Persecution of perceived oppressive groups, including:
Teachers.
Intellectuals.
Scientists.
Other experts.
These individuals were targeted for labor camps and imprisonment.
Decline in China’s economic and intellectual output.
Additional deaths due to executions, imprisonment, and famine.
The Cultural Revolution (1960s)
Mao's popularity declined in the 1960s due to the failure of the Great Leap Forward and the resulting death toll.
To regain support, Mao launched the Cultural Revolution, emphasizing:
Equality.
Communism.
Anti-capitalism.
The Cultural Revolution encouraged rebellion, humiliation, and rejection of tradition, especially among young people.
Anything not purely communist or pro-communist was labeled anti-revolutionary and led to prosecution and, in some cases, death.
Mao used propaganda:
Posters.
Songs.
Images.
Clips, to demonstrate his power, prestige, and dedication to the revolution.
Citizens were forced to carry personal quotes by Mao.
Deng Xiaoping's Reforms (Post-1976)
Following Mao's death in 1976, Deng Xiaoping took over, inheriting a struggling Chinese economy.
Unlike Mao, Deng adopted a more mixed, socialist approach, incorporating free-market capitalist features.
Deng implemented reforms such as:
Privatizing farms, which incentivized farmers and drastically increased agricultural production.
Focusing on cheap labor and factory industry.
Exporting manufactured goods to build national wealth.
Despite these free-market aspects, China remained a single-party communist authoritarian regime with control over economic matters.
Economic Growth and Social Issues
While conditions improved for most, the economic reforms led to wealth concentration among a few elites, while many remained poor.
The CCP continued to deny basic freedoms, leading to mass protests by 1989 due to inflation and strict government policies.
Tiananmen Square Protest:
Centered in Tiananmen Square, Beijing, with nearly a million participants, mainly students seeking democratic political reforms.
Government Response:
Deng's administration viewed the protests as a threat and deployed military force.
Thousands of protestors were killed, and the event was broadcast internationally, highlighting China's communist authoritarian nature.
International Reaction:
The world responded with outrage and imposed economic sanctions on China.
Economic Data
People's Republic of China's Nominal Gross Domestic Product (GDP) Between 1952 to 2005