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Dwarkesh Podcast
Jung Chang - Living through Cultural Revolution and the Crimes of Mao
Nov 29, 2023
01:31:15
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Jung Chang, author of 'Wild Swans' and 'Mao: The Unknown Story', discusses growing up during the Cultural Revolution, the crimes of Mao, and the continued veneration of Mao by the CCP. Topics include life as a peasant, the psychology of communist society, and the Great Leap Forward which resulted in the starvation and death of millions.
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Quick takeaways
- The speaker shares personal experiences of living under Mao's regime, including witnessing starvation, scarcity of food, and the intense control exerted by communes over every aspect of people's lives.
- The complete isolation of China from the outside world and the reign of terror ensured that dissenting thoughts were suppressed and questioning Mao's rule was unthinkable and dangerous.
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Growing up under Mao's regime
The speaker describes growing up privileged under Mao, with communist official parents. However, the Cultural Revolution changed everything, as her father spoke up against Mao, leading to his arrest, torture, and death. Her mother faced immense pressure to denounce her husband but refused and endured numerous denunciation meetings and physical abuse. The speaker shared her personal experiences of living under Mao's regime, such as witnessing starvation, scarcity of food, and the intense control exerted by communes over every aspect of people's lives.
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