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Thermidor Reaction (Chapters 14-16) : : - Coggle Diagram
Thermidor Reaction (Chapters 14-16) : :
Comparison and Contrast with Soviet Union
Similar general problem of massive bureaucracy leading to economic inefficiency and creation of a new social hierarchy that undermines ideological claims of socialism/communism.
Different in that many of the members of bureaucracy in USSR had previously served the Tsarist regime, which wasn't the case in China due to KMT withdrawal to Taiwan.
Major difference between Stalin and Mao in terms of how they exerted their power, with Mao emphasizing mass campaigns, often against the Party, while Stalin focused on control of Party via internal conflict that kept him preeminent.
New Economic Policy in China (1961-65) largely similar in general aims to Lenin's NEP.
Different in terms of timing within regime and therefore level of "capitalist" methods tolerated, with less capitalism in China.
Mao and the Socialist Education Movement
Role of the PLA
Key supporter of Mao, notably Lin Biao.
Publisher of 1 billion copies of Little Red Book
Instrumental in development of "cult of personality" and previews the Cultural Revolution to come
"Learn from PLA" campaign reemphasizes PLA's political role during revolutionary struggle
What is it? The "four cleans" campaign to cleanse bureaucracy of "reactionary" elements in political, economic, organizational, and ideological fields.
Direct threat to key Party bureaucrats, which leads to a low level of support due to Deng and Liu Shaoqi revising aims.
Started in September 1962 with brief nationwide spread in May 1963. Basis in Maoist though, notably similar to Yan'an Rectification Campaign.
New Economic Policy and the Bureaucratic Restoration
Aims
Economic Stabilisation after GLF failure.
"Taking agriculture as the foundation"
Implementation
Countryside
Increased investment in fertilizer and farm machinery and tools
Breaking up of communes into smaller production units
Increased emphasis on material incentives (same in city as well)
CIty
Control returned to Party bureaucracy
Closing of inefficient factories and 50% of industrial workforce let go to enable increased employment in agriculture
Outcomes
Industrial production grew 11% per year while grain production rose from 193 million tons in 1961 to 240 million tons in 1965
Increased social inequality
Corruption and lack of education in countryside favored Party officials and higher-income peasants who colluded with cadres
Familiar pattern of exploitation of rural areas in general in interest of urban regions returns by end of the era
In cities education system favored "old" elite and the "new" elites of Party officials
Some impressive achievements in health industry (nearly 400% increase in doctors from 1949 to 1965)
What came before? The Great Leap Forward and how it leads to the "dead ancestor" phase for Mao in this era
See prior section, but generally huge catastrophe of GLF leads to Mao losing control of Party to Deng and Liu Shaoqi.
Why not just get rid of him? Fear of Civil War due to his legitimate support given success of revolution, especially in years immediately after 1949