The Great Leap Forward & Cultural Revolution w/ Ken Hammond (Modern Chinese History Pt. 3)
Apr 19, 2024
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Guest Ken Hammond, an expert in modern Chinese history, discusses topics like The Great Leap Forward, The Cultural Revolution, leadership dynamics, historiographical perspectives, and critiquing the 'great man theory' in an engaging and educational manner. The episode delves into Mao's strategies, the Shanghai Commune, and the importance of learning from historical failures for future socialist movements.
The Great Leap Forward aimed to transform agricultural production into socialist agriculture, driving land redistribution and collectivization.
The Cultural Revolution challenged bureaucratic control, advocated mass involvement in governance, and aimed to align party policies with the people.
Mao's actions sought to address bureaucratic distortions, promote open debate, and engage the masses in governance, rejecting the 'great man theory'.
The Cultural Revolution prompted broad discussions beyond academia, challenging bureaucratic control and promoting mass engagement in political discourse.
The establishment of the Shanghai commune marked a shift towards revolutionary committees for mass supervision of leadership, amid growing geopolitical tensions.
Deep dives
Key Points Regarding the Great Leap Forward
The Great Leap Forward aimed to transform agricultural production into socialist agriculture, focusing on redistribution of land and collectivization. The process started with forming agricultural producers' cooperatives, leading to a people's commune. Productivity increased initially, but problems arose due to distorted reporting and a subsequent famine. Post-Great Leap Forward corrections devolved administrative oversight, aimed to rectify issues and resulted in improved harvests later.
Transition to the Cultural Revolution
Following the Great Leap Forward, a socialist education movement investigated cadre behavior. The perceived lack of integration between cadres and the masses led to concerns about bureaucratic distortion. Chairman Mao initiated the Cultural Revolution in response to resistance in discussing issues openly. This movement aimed to involve the masses directly, challenging top-down control and bureaucratic practices.
Challenging Misconceptions About Mao's Intentions
Misconceptions alleging Mao's initiation of the socialist education movement and Cultural Revolution solely to retain power are refuted. These movements were responses to bureaucratic issues and a call to involve the masses in governance. Rejecting the 'great man theory,' Mao's actions were driven by a desire for open debate, addressing bureaucratic distortions, aiming to align the party with the masses.
Debates Leading to the Cultural Revolution
Debates around historical plays and academia criticisms led to clashes between opposing narratives. Mao pushed for broader discussions beyond academic circles. The ensuing Cultural Revolution challenged bureaucratic control, prompting mass engagement in political discourse. Mao's actions aimed at decentralizing power and aligning party policies with the people.
Myths and Realities of Historical Interpretations
Historical interpretations often portray Mao's actions during the Cultural Revolution as power consolidation. In reality, Mao sought to address bureaucratic distortions and engage the masses in governance. The emphasis was on challenging top-down control, promoting open debate, and aligning party leadership with the interests of the people. The Cultural Revolution marked a shift towards greater participation and oversight from the masses.
The Dissolution of the Workers' Movement in Shanghai and Establishment of Revolutionary Committees
In the fall of 1966, workers in Shanghai mobilized and began criticizing party and factory leadership, culminating in the establishment of the Shanghai commune. By December of 1966, the commune took control of the municipal party headquarters, dismissing the existing leadership. This move signaled a shift towards revolutionary committees composed of party, army, and masses, establishing a mechanism for mass supervision of leadership.
Lin Biao's Opposition to Mao's Geopolitical Reassessments and Mysterious Death
Amidst growing tensions with the Soviet Union in the early 70s, Lin Biao disagreed with Mao's reassessment of China's primary contradiction, favoring a continued focus on US imperialism. As a result, Lin Biao and family members attempted to flee to the Soviet Union, leading to a fatal plane crash in Mongolia. His death marked the end of his position as Mao's successor, impactful in China's shifting geopolitical alignments.
The Declining Health and Passing of Mao Zedong
By the early 70s, Chairman Mao's health was deteriorating, impacting his leadership in the midst of growing political tensions. Mao's close comrade in arms, Lin Biao's tragic death, further destabilized the leadership dynamics. Mao's declining health culminated in his passing on September 9, 1976, a pivotal moment that paved the way for resolving contradictions within the party.
Overview of the Gang of Four and Transitioning Leadership Dynamics
The Gang of Four, including Mao's wife Jiang Qing, emerged as ultraleft figures aligned with Mao's revolutionary vision but faced opposition from pragmatists like Deng Xiaoping. The leadership dynamics post Lin Biao's death and Mao's declining health grew contentious, setting the stage for a shift towards a pragmatist approach and the emergence of new leadership figures like the Gang of Four.
In this episode of Guerrilla History, we get into part 3 of our 4 part miniseries on modern Chinese history featuring Ken Hammond (and guest host Breht O'Shea of Revolutionary Left Radio) with an amazing discussion of The Great Leap Forward and The Cultural Revolution! If you haven't already listened to part 1 of the series, on the Taiping and Boxer Rebellions, or part 2 on The Chinese Revolution & Civil War, be sure to go back and check those out because we pick up right where we left off last time. With these final two episodes in the series, we enter the period where various ideological traditions diverge in their analysis of the events, but regardless of what ideological background you come from, we encourage you to listen to these and engage with the information, as we believe the information will help you deepen your own analysis regardless of your ideological position. The final installment will drop in two weeks (with another episode in between), and will cover the Reform period, so be sure to subscribe to not miss that episode!
Ken Hammond is Professor of East Asian and Global History at New Mexico State University. He has been engaged in radical politics since his involvement in the anti-war movement at Kent State in 1968-70. Ken is also the author of the book China’s Revolution & the Quest for a Socialist Future.
