Mao's China and Beyond - Essay Example

Question: What social, economic, and political crises of modern China did the Communist-led revolution attempt to address How adequate (or inadequate) were the solutions offered by the Chinese Communist movement, which brought about a new state in 1949 At any point when a nation and its people are faced with times of change, such evolution can be hectic as it moves forward to approach whatever issues, would need to be handled. Each national party and their leader(s), along with the citizenry themselves, would have unique interpretations of what should and shouldn't be there. These changes can and often times do, take many shapes. Such as, resulting issues over social welfare, economic standing, along with the resulting political unrest that transpires alongside everything else. For the citizens of China, they would encounter ramifications of their own, as a result of the advancement of the Communist movement. Over time, the influence of the movement would be determined. According to Maoism, "Deliberate organizing of mass military and economic power was deemed necessary to defend the revolutionary threat, while centralization kept corruption under supervision," ("Communism", p.15). This in itself would appear to be a positive step, but only time would tell how much. Primarily, it would appear that it would have attempted to address the revolving issues involving the social classes. In the end, "Reviews of Mao's rule are mixed. Mao's Cultural Revolution left millions dead and his apparent unswerving commitment to personal revolutionary immortality led to millions of Chinese being deprived of education and human security during the Cultural Revolution," ("Communism", p.15). The notion of the lack of both education, as well as basic human protection as it would come to human rights, would seem as being a highly inadequate ramification resulting from the movement itself. Any nation, or civilization, possesses cultural structures, for which they would be proud of. The structures that would be set to distinguish themselves from one another and in the process, would act as a unifier for the general masses. From the social standpoint, "As with the New Culture movement, Mao believed that all vestiges of Chinese traditional culture needed to be overturned. These included hsiao, or filial piety, Confucianism, monarchism, ancestor worship, religion, and the authority of elders," (Hooker, p.2). The movement of Mao's ideology, would further be translated politically as well. In viewing the political philosophy set forth, it would appear as if a contradiction in meaning. When most view proposed democracy, they view it in terms similar, if not exact, to the present US structure of government. In essence of this, "Mao himself referred to "New Democracy" as "democratic centralism"," (Hooker, p.3). With every revolution, comes the hope of a new beginning and the progression from old ideas, to new and what may be seen as better ones. The problem would potentially be that, "Democratic centralism essence a dictatorship- "a dictatorship of all revolutionary classes," in Mao's words- power would be concentrated in the hands of a few in order to guarantee that all class interests are represented," (Hooker, p.3). In further study, it would be discovered that part of Mao's policy, would be making both the financial institutions and general industry more on a national scale. Also there would be re-allocation of land coming from the wealthier owners and going to those who would have been at the very bottom of the economic class system. After Mao assumed his power hold in 1949, he re-named the previously mentioned principle of democratic thinking that he saw as being new, to something called the People's Democratic Dictatorship. While the general idea would further go on to make mention of the strength of the people's convictions and what they wanted to be handled by the ruling government, it would still place power within one central force. Question: What was the historical context of the Hundred Flowers Movement and Anti-Rightist Campaign in 1957 What was the historical and political significance of the 1957 episode In terms of key events, the Hundred Flowers Movement would leave its own impression upon the history and people of China. This would have been a period of time in which Mao would find himself in a firm position of leadership. "It was in this new mental frame that he was prepared to entertain the idea that China needed to reassess the role of its intellectuals despite his continued suspicion of them," (Schwartz, p.4). The historical context of this occurrence would be considerable. The decision to seek out new ideas that would potentially hold unforeseen benefits. A process of putting together a societal structure that would have been more in the mainstream way of thinking and practice. Questions would soon arise though. Questions as to whether this would in fact happen. In this case, "By the summer of 1957, however, it became clear that in fact he was to become much more obsessed with certain unanticipated short-term political consequences, particularly by what might be called the emergence of the student factor," (Schwartz, p.4). Students that would, at this point, be reaching the mindset of questioning varying aspects of the political system in place. With this in place, Mao would have to reconsider what he would have been willing and not willing to accept, let alone tolerate, from those under his control as he saw it. As far as this situation was concerned, it would appear as if Mao would not have been prepared to accept such a thing. Towards the end of the movement, "On the rise of the communes, the emphasis on the collective moral fervor of the peasant masses, and the combination of fervent faith in rapid development with an anti-economist view of the motive power of this development, we find a revival of the totalitarian model and of the notion of the peculiarly exotic "Asian" nature of Chinese totalitarianism," (Schwartz, p.4). As history would look back upon this period, it would be a time of change that would serve as a catalyst to the present Chinese social and political landscapes. True national advancements come into being, as a direct result of both positive and negative events that transpire. The social and political events that lead to change will not only have ramifications for the interim basis, but also will filter into the years and decades that follow. The unifying measure between the societies in question, would be their desire to escape what they may feel to be an oppressive state and those leaders that are seen as saviors from such peril. Some will see leaders that will deliver upon such promises, while some may not. Movements for change are often times met with hope, as well as trepidation. Historically speaking, national growth for centuries, has long since been built upon the drive and conviction of those closest to the event(s) themselves. These processes can be unnerving, as the case would have been to a degree for the Hundred Flowers Movement and the Anti-Rightist Campaign of 1957. From a political standpoint, it would be a time of evolutionary change for the acting Chinese political structure. The political framework that would be translated for future generations to come, through the historical accounts documented and reported. The image below would show Mao Zedong in 1946, while he was at Yan'an. ("Communism", p.14). In any discussion of interest, there is consideration given to the presence of those who reside on both sides of the spectrum. Whether it be the right, or the left, each side would have their own perspective and willing to express it. With the entrance into the Anti-Rightist campaign of 1957, that would lead into a further campaign that would have been waged between 1958 and 1960, the result would be seen as having an element of finality to it. "..there was an abrupt decline in the fortunes of a development theory that relied heavily on economic analysis and on Weberian notions of rationalization," (Schwartz, p.4). Conclusion History truly does pave the way for better understanding of cultures and those who have lived within the them. For without historical accounts and summations, it would be virtually impossible to even come close, to understanding the events that lead to situations and those very people that would have played either primary, or secondary roles throughout them. It has long since been the goal of many nations, to be seen as power players in their own right. The chance to be viewed by the citizens within, as well as the neighbors abroad, as being a society of great and powerful things. Revolutions in any form, see both human, as well as financial costs. The cost of paying for such actions can come in the form of dollars spent and the lives lost. In this case, physical life would not just be the lives lost in this matter. For many, it would have been their way of life. Nothing is free and in this case, that would ring to be true. General Mao would have been someone that wanted to go after those nations that were deemed higher than his. To be seen as the protector of the unprotected, at least as he saw it and to utilize the strength of the military to enforce those goals. In the respect of politics, the strength of a leader's military, only serves to show the rest of the world, the strength of the nation itself as perceived by those who lead it. In recent years, the Chinese landscape would see its own fair share of struggles from varying influences. One of the most telling events would be that which occurred in Tiananmen Square. The photo below, taken in 1989 by Bob Gannon (Schwartz, p.1), would act as a way of putting the human face on the matter. For all intensive purposes, the historical and political ramifications of the era of Mao and the movements of his time, have been entwined with the present in such a way that serve to educate and inform. References "Communism". New World Encyclopedia. Retrieved December 1, 2009 from http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Communism#Maoism Hooker, Richard. Modern China- Mao Tse-tung. Copyright- 1996. Retrieved December 1, 2009 from http://www.wsu.edu/dee/MODCHINA/MAO.HTM Schwartz, Benjamin I. On the New Turn in China. Dissent Online. Published: 1989 (print), 2007 (online). Retrieved December 1, 2009 from http://www.dissentmagazine.org/online.php id=22 Read More