Covers Unit 4 of the AQA A-level History Course (The Transformation of China )
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, SECTION 4: Reform and control 1962-1966
Leadership in the PRC
MAO’S POSITION IN 1962
7000 cadre conference to discuss the failures of the GLF
Discussions revealed a growing divide in the CCP leadership
Set the scene for the violent power struggles to face the CCP in the years to come
Mao’s failure had suffered from the failure of the GLF – he was closely associated with the policy
Veiled criticisms of his policies from other leaders such as Liu Shaoqi and Peng Shen
More pragmatic approach to economic policy pursued by Chen Yun with support from Deng
Xiaoping & Liu Shaoqi different to the ideologically driven approach which Mao liked they
were charged with the task of bringing an end to the rural crisis and restoring adequate food
supplies when Mao withdrew from direct government
Mao = unable to stop this = questions about his authority
Mao = convinced that Liu & Deng = were using their position to challenge him – paranoia
Speech from the 7000 cadre conference, Mao:
- ‘Any mistakes that the centre has made ought to be my direct responsibility’
- ‘I also have an indirect share of the blame’
On the surface = looks like he is taking responsibility for the failure of the GLF – but then he goes on to say
that it wasn’t really his fault – manipulative & trying to make it seem like he is in the absolute right.
1958 – Mao = given up position as Chairman of the PRC – ‘retired to the second front’
1962 – hadn’t attended a Politburo meeting since 1958
Felt increasingly isolated from decision making
Withdrew from public after conference 1962 – working out how to respond to criticisms
Retained position as head of the party (CCP)
Authority = was still the ‘Great Helmsman’ – he had successfully led the Chinese revolution –
attributed to his leadership / correctness of ideology
None had courage to openly challenge him = careful – purge of Peng Dehuai, 1959 (scared ppl)
Mao = side-lined BUT… retained all power / inherent authority with curbs on power
Early 60s – Mao = writing articles attacking Khrushchev & ‘revisionism’
Targets = members of the CCP pushing party in same direction
Aging – wouldn’t be around forever = more concerned about legacy – wanted to make sure the PRC
continued to follow his path
Liu Shaoqi = successor chosen 1959
Mao = concerned he couldn’t be trusted to protect his legacy after he died.
PARTY DIVISIONS & THE POWER STRUGGLE
The LEFT (Maoist)
THE GANG OF FOUR:
- Jiang Qing
o Mao’s 3rd wife – 1939
, o During 1950s she worked for the Ministry of Culture – but otherwise didn’t have a major
political role
o She wasn’t liked by leading figures in the CCP – for having ‘usurped’ Mao’s popular second
wife, He Zizhen (who had been with Mao on the LM)
o She was therefore – kept out of politics until the 60s
o She was bright, ambitious & ruthless determined to get revenge for the treatment she
had received from the male dominated party.
o Rose to prominence as she spoke out against writers and intellectuals who showed
insufficient commitment to revolutionary values
o Her attacks on intellectuals = also attacks on the party leadership for allowing these
‘revisionist’ writings to be published.
o Mao = had argued since Yenan days – art and literature should promote revolution
o During early 60s – many started returning to more traditional themes in their work
o Jiang = appears to have been a key influence on Mao in the early 60s – in convincing him
that the cultural sphere needed his attention
o Mao = instructed her in 1962 to put together a policy statement for the party on culture
o She complained to Mao that the Party leadership was the main obstacle to cultural reform
o Mao = sought support from loyal leaders in provinces
o Jiang = had allies in Shanghai (group of radical intellectuals – the Shanghai radicals) – they
controlled the city’s propaganda department
o Mao = moved to Shanghai in Nov 1965 – surrounded by people who held his view that there
was a pressing need to restore socialist values and discipline in the economic and cultural
life of the nation.
o She considered that the arts should promote the revolution / socialist values
o Wanted to eradicate ‘bourgeois’ influence in the arts especially when it led to criticism of
Mao
o
- Yao Wenyan
- Wang Hongwen
o Was nominated successor to Mao at one point
o But was associated too much with the left
o Prove incapable of leadership
- Zhang Chunqiao
Kang Sheng
- Been a key ally of Mao in the Yenan years
- Had fallen out of favour in the 50s
- He knew Jiang before she became Mao’s wife & in the 60s, they tried to build their influence
together
- Considered that the arts should promote the revolution / socialist values
- Wanted to eradicate ‘bourgeois’ influence in the arts especially when it led to criticism of Mao
- It was through him that Jiang made contact with the radicals in Shanghai & start to put together a
series of proposals for reform of Chinese culture
- Through Jiang – he was able to resurrect his political career
- Used his experiences as head of the secret police to identify and attack intellectuals whose political
leanings were suspect
- He was ruthless & was prepared to destroy anyone who stood in his way
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