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Mao's Maintenance of Power - Coggle Diagram
Mao's Maintenance of Power
Economic policies
Land Reform
Following the establishment of the the PRC in 1949, the central government of the People's Republic of China published a Land Reform Law on June 30, 1950. The law abrogated ownership of land by landlords and introduced peasant landownership.
This helped Mao consolidate support from the peasantry as well as riding opposition that may have threatened the regime.
First 5 Year Plan
Mao introduced the first Five-Year Plan in 1953, which aimed to increase economic growth with an emphasis on industrial development at the expense of agriculture.
The effects of the plan were largely successful as areas like capital goods increased 158%, consumer goods increased by 87%, and total industrial output increased by 118%. This consequently strengthened Mao's personal authority.
Foreign policy
Sino-Soviet Pact 1950
The treaty's terms stated that Soviet Union was to provide a $300 million credit to the PRC. It also mandated that the Soviet Union return to the Chinese the control of a major railroad and the cities of Port Arthur and Dairen in Manchuria, all of which had been seized by Russian forces near the end of World War II. Moreover, the pact also allowed for 10,000 Soviet economic advisers to be sent to the PRC, paid for by China.
The pact allowed Mao to be portrayed as a great statesman as the pact elevated China on the global stage as they were doing business with a power superpower
Korean War
Mao felt threatened by the US's involvement in Korea as they wanted North Korea as a Communist buffer state to protect their northeastern provinces that made up Manchuria and they also felt threatened by the American fleet that lay off their coast. Therefore, he launched the War to Resist America and Assist Korea War where more than 2,300,000 Chinese troops fought in the war.
Despite suffering over 1 million causalities, Mao used China's involvement in the Korean war as a display of Chinese military and cultural superiority over the US. Posters depicted the event as a propaganda victory.
Treatment of Opposition / Use of Force
Anti-Rightist Campaign 1951
In November 1951, Mao launched the Three Antis Campaign. Its purpose was to eradicate the three ‘evils’: corruption, waste and bureaucracy. The main targets were members of the CCP, particularly urban officials who had direct contact with financial and business interests and were therefore susceptible to corruption.
In November 1951, Liu Qingshan and Zhang Zishan, high-ranking CCP secretaries in the northern prefecture of Tianjin, were arrested with Mao’s approval. they were found guilty and executed in February 1952. Their treatment became an example to other party members about the consequences of corruption, helping maintain Mao's authority of the CCP
Five Antis Campaign 1951
A second campaign, the Five Antis , was launched in early 1952. The five ‘evils’ stipulated by Mao were bribery, tax evasion, theft of state property, cheating on government contracts and stealing economic information.
Many corrupt capitalists were identified during the campaign. Five Antis cadres sought the help of ordinary people, enlisting thousands of spies and informants to monitor suspect individuals and businesses. State propaganda encouraged workers to inform the government of suspicious activity. By eliminating capitalist elements, Mao was maintaining the vitality of communism in China
Cultural Revolution 1966 - 1976
The Cultural Revolution was launched in China in 1966 by Communist leader Mao Zedong in order to reassert his authority over the Chinese government. Believing that current Communist leaders were taking the party, and China itself, in the wrong direction, Mao called on the nation’s youth to purge the 'four olds' elements of Chinese society and revive the revolutionary spirit that had led to victory in the civil war 20 years earlier and the formation of the People’s Republic of China.
President Liu Shaoqi and other Communist leaders who were seen as 'capitalist stooges', 'revisionists' who generally were seen as a threat to Mao's rule were removed from power. The revolution helped Mao maintain power as it was able to reestablish his personal authority and revitalise the revolutionary spirit in China by mobilising the youth.
The Great Terror
The Great Terror helped Mao maintain his power as it created a revolutionary zeal to seek out and identify enemies, not only neutralising opposition but creating an atmosphere of fear and intimidation in which few were prepared to speak out against.
Charismatic Leadership
Swim in the Yangtze River
Mao’s swim in the Yangtze river demonstrated his physical prowess and good health, defying rumours that his age and time out of the spotlight suggested he was anything less than a capable leader.
Cultural Revolution
Mao personally authorised the cultural revolution which augmented his support amongst the youth.
Propaganda
Posters
The dominating posters were depictions of what the Communist party considered the ideal of a better life and of social behavior under their Communist philosophy. This included the idea of a strong wholesome, nuclear family where the mother would provide sucre for her children. Most importantly, the posters wanted to perpetuate the idea that Mao was at the center of day to day life.Posters also aimed to portray communist economic prosperity for the rural population and to promote an unselfish life in the service of the community and China.
It also aimed to instill the idea that Mao was supreme in every way and was the savior of the chinese people and benefactor of the people. This would therefore help elevate Mao’s status and authority over the Chinese people as it would increase respect, admiration and reverence for Mao.
Little Red Book
In these quotations, Mao is emphasising the importance of violence and conflict was in obtaining political power. This could possibly justify the use violence in removing opposition in China and would encourage others to do the same.
Most of the book is dedicated to elevating Mao and the CCP’s status within China, aiming to create a legendary mythical like perception of Mao's achievements and feats.
The main purpose of the book was to distill the voluminous products of Mao’s mind into a small book that even a semi-literate peasant or new soldier could read, memorise, or set to music.
The book was used during the Cultural Revolution to streamline ideology and ideological conformity, but also as a weapon to be used against perceived ‘class enemies’ and ‘counter-revolutionaries.’
Television and Newspapers
In 1949, the PRC introduced China Central Television and the People’s Daily newspaper as a means of disseminating propaganda to the Chinese population. Political campaigns launched by the CCP would be announced through editorials and leading articles in People's Daily, which would be followed by other papers which were also under the control of the CCP. The China Central Television network would be inundated with propaganda films and documentaries showcasing Mao’s brilliance and superiority. The use of television and newspapers as a means of propagating propaganda helped the CCP reach a very large audience across the country, creating a cult like status around Mao, helping consolidate his support.
Films
In 1950, Mao Zedong's wife Jiang Qing, was installed as head of the Film Agency of the Central Propaganda Department. She began a purge of right wing filmmakers who were seen as class enemies. A former actress, Jiang recognized the power of cinema to shape the Party's message.
Films including ‘Battle on Shangganling Mountain’ and ‘The East is Red’ produced by the agency aimed to reflect the lives of the working classes and romanticize the Red Army and the CCP’s rise to power prior to the establishment of the PRC. By doing so, films led to the intensification of Mao and the CCP’s legendary, mythical like-status, further engendering admiration and respect for Mao.
Songs
Although they were not a direct product of the CCP’s propaganda movement, various songs were formed from 1930 to 1940 by Red Army soldiers and peasants as a means of keeping up morale. The songs would often talk about Mao being the savior of the Chinese people and the person responsible for bringing peace, liberation and prosperity to China. These tunes were later used as anthems by the CCP. They were often sung by school children before school as well as by farmers when they were working. The songs became associated with teamwork and high spirits thus creating a positive image of Mao and the CCP.