NATURE OF POLITICAL DISRUPTION AND THE IMPACT ON THE CHINESE COMMUNIST PARTY

• Disruption

  • Completely disrupted the political organisation in China

  • Conflict and disruption between Gang of Four and Lin with the PLA

  • Lin presented as Mao’s successor in 1969, but after his flight the Gang of Four came back into contention and launched campaign against Zhou

• Power Struggle

  • Power struggle remained consistent due to Mao’s old age

  • Party descended into factions which were all alienated from one another

RESPONSES TO THE DEATH OF ZHOU ENLAI

• Official

  • Response reflected that Zhou was more significant than Mao at this point

  • Gang of Four announced there would be no other memorials than the official one to try and quash support and legacy

• Unofficial

  • Marked genuine loss of political moderation

  • Tens of thousands went to Tiananmen Square in 1976 to leave presents and flowers for Zhou but they were removed by police

  • Led to mass demonstrations and protests which Jiang blamed on Deng and again removed him from all political positions

CHANGING POLITICAL STANDING OF MAO ZEDONG AND DENG XIAOPING

• Deng returns

  • Deng brought back in 1973 by Mao for stability and growth

  • Took increasing power through 1975 as Zhou was hospitalised and began plans for modernisation

• Deng goes away again

  • 1975 Mao’s health is declining and he was concerned about his legacy

  • Gang of Four able to convince Mao that Deng was Confucianist resulting in exile in 1976