Socialist Construction in China, 1945 -1980

Question 1

Factors

Answer 1

Population Growth

Government campaigns reward high birth rates

Rural collectives indirectly encouraged high birth rates

Focus on Import Substitution

Forced Accumulation of Capital Through Limited Consumption

Question 2

Culture

Answer 2

Promotion of Socialist culture, cult of Mao, and critique of tradition

Question 3

Institutions

Answer 3

Economic planning at multiple levels

Fundamental split between urban and rural sectors

argiculture: people’s communes with compensation through work points
industry: state-owned enterprise with compensation through wages

urban collectives

Limited Labor Mobility and Household Registration

New Social Hierarchy

enforced by selective allocation of goods and opp.

Campaigns became a central means of economic policy implementation

Question 4

When was the GLF?

Answer 4

1958 - 1960

Question 5

What did the Great Leap Forward launch?

Answer 5

GLF launched mass-mobilization style economic development

Question 6

Steel-Mill Furnances proudced….

Answer 6

shitty steel

Question 7

Results of these campaigns (steel mills)?

Answer 7

Pressure for results led to massive overstatement of production.

Enormous waste of resources and labor

Worst famine of the 20th century

Question 8

Why did the famine occur?

Answer 8

Say 50% state taxes on food

If a community produces 100 tons of wheat, 50 tons go to the state, 50 tons is distrubted to feed the commune

Overinflation led to higher numbers than there actually were. Say they report 150 tons whena ctually 100 tons. that means 75 tons go to state, 25 left to eat.

STARVATION

Question 9

When was the Cultural Revolution?

Answer 9

1966 - 1976

Question 10

Cultural Revolution

Answer 10

Launched as part of political struggle but also in reposne to economic pressure

Mao called on China’s youth to reform Chinese politics and culture

Question 11

Results of Cultural Revolutoin

Answer 11

Dismissal of Bourgeouis knowledge

_Triumph of red over expert _

Closing of schools and de-emphasis on education

Learn from Dazhai Commune campaign

Triumph of politics over economics

Relocation of youth to the country

Question 12

Did Mao’s model of state-led, mass mobilizing econoimc organization lead to success or disaster?

Answer 12

The results are mixed. Why?

Rapid increase in industrialization

Increase in GDP

Leveling of inequality, at least on the surface

Huge human cost

Inability to continue mobilization for long periods of time

Huge environmental cost