Critically discuss the implementation of Mao Zedong's policies, the 'Great Leap Forward' and the 'Cultural Revolution' in the People's Republic of China between 1957 and 1969. - English General - NSC History - Question 4 - 2018 - Paper 1

The Great Leap Forward, initiated in 1958, was a campaign aimed at transforming China into a socialist society through rapid industrialization and collectivization of agriculture.

However, this initiative was plagued by significant challenges:

• Overambitious Targets: The program set unrealistic production goals, particularly in steel and grain.
• Collective Farming: Farmers were organized into collective farms, undermining traditional agricultural practices which led to decreased productivity.
• Labor Issues: The reliance on unskilled labor resulted in inefficient production processes. Workers faced long hours with little training.
• Famine: Poor planning and resource misallocation led to widespread famine, causing millions of deaths by the early 1960s.

The Cultural Revolution, launched in 1966, aimed to reinforce Mao's control over the Communist Party and society at large. It focused on uprooting perceived bourgeois elements and re-establishing communist ideology. Key aspects include:

• Red Guards: Mobilization of youth to challenge authority and old customs, beliefs, and habits (the 'Four Olds').
• Government Reforms: The campaign sought to reclaim the Communist Party’s loyalty, resulting in chaos and violence against intellectuals.
• Education Disruption: Schools and universities closed, derailing education for an entire generation, emphasizing loyalty to Mao instead of academic learning.
• Leadership Struggle: Mao eliminated rival leaders (such as Liu Shaoqi) and established stronger reliance on his ideology and the youth movement.

In summary, while Mao's policies were aimed at rapid change and ideological conformity, their implementation revealed significant flaws. The Great Leap Forward resulted in a catastrophic famine and economic downturn, while the Cultural Revolution led to long-lasting impacts on Chinese society and its educational framework. The analysis of these periods underscores the complexities of implementing radical policies in a vast and diverse nation.