The ideology of Mao Zedong Flashcards
How did Mao’s thinking differ from that of the other leading communists in the CPC?
his thinking had proved to be more relevant to the situation in China
Who were the ‘28 Bolsheviks’?
the leadership of the CPC in its early years who had been trained in revolutionary theory and practise in the Soviet Union
What did the ‘28 Bolsheviks’ believe?
they followed Marxist theory which emphasised the importance of the industrial workers- the proletariat- in the revolutionary class struggle that would eventually lead to a communist society
What were the priorities of the ‘28 Bolsheviks’?
- to build a communist party membership in the cities among the factory workers, transport industries and mines
What did Mao believe?
- the industrial workers were a small minority of chinese society- 1% of the pop. in 1920s- would never form the basis for a mass revolutionary party
- the communist party was driven out of the cities by Chiang Kai-shek’s forces after 1927
- China’s peasants, mostly poor and exploited by the wealthy landlords, had the potential to become a revolutionary force
- ideas based on marxism but adapted to chinese conditions
- self-reliance; continuing revolution; class struggle; learning from the people; mass mobilisation
What were the priorities of Mao?
- that the communist party work closely with the peasantry and provide them with revolutionary leadership
What was the significance of Mao’s theory?
his strategy of concentrating on the rural areas was the only realistic course of action in the 1930s-40s
it ensured first the survival of the communist party and later its eventual victory
it helped to ensure that Mao emerged from various power struggles as the chairman and leading theorist of the party
What was Mao’s role in goverment?
chairman, leading theorist
mao thought became the official doctrine of the party
not involved in day-to-day making and implementing of policy
saw his role as to lead and keep alive and ideological debate within the party over the underlying prinicple on which policy should be based- ‘general line’
perioducally purging those seen to be deviating from the general line
sought to control the party and government
What was Mao’s idea of self-reliance?
mao was a chinese nationalist as well as communist
china to be restored as a powerful independant nation - deeply affected by china’s humiliation at the hands of the western powersand japan
free china from forein control and reliance on foreign powers
there were continuing debates within the CPC over the extent to which china should follow the example of the Spviet union in its developing economy
What was Mao’s idea of Continuing revolution?
the revolution did not end at communist party take over in 1949
class enemies, landlords and bourgeoisie, still owned most of the property in China and still largely controlled the economy
it was essential for each new generation be actively involved in the revolutionary struggle to prevent the threat of a counter revolution and ensure their continuing support for the regime
rather political stability to achieve economic development he placed priority on the revolutionary zeal of the masses
What was Mao’s idea of class struggle?
maintaining struggle essential to continuing revolution
danger that the communist party, once in power, would become a new ruling class that would exploit the poor
communist offical would enjoy the benefits of rank and privilege which would detach them from the people they were supposed to serve
the communist party needed to be preiodically rectified- party officials subjected to struggle meetings where they faced public critcism and forced slef-criticisms; re-education by attending indoctrination meetings and working in the fields with the peasants
What was Mao’s idea of learning from the people?
party should be embedded in the people
the communist party should listen to the concerns of the people and learn from them
the masses should participate in discussions on policy
people should act as a check on the power of the partyensuring its rule did not become dictatorial
determined the chinese communist party would not follow the example of the Soviet union where the communist behaved in a commandist way
What was Mao’s idea of Mass mobilisation?
communist party’s main task in government was to mobilises the masses in campaign to achieve specific objectives
the key to economic advance - rather than managers and experts
didnt believe people needed extra rewards- money- to persuade them to work harder- people would willingly work for a common good
