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Transition to Socialism: Political developments - Coggle Diagram
Transition to Socialism: Political developments
100 flowers campaign
A genuine desire for debate
A reaction for de-stalinsation
Initial purpose
Early Participants: Universities, writers, artists, and academics.
Thought their involvement would help China catch up with the West.
Suggested the Party would tolerate criticism.
Indicated there would be more space for expression.
Aimed to build consensus and control dissent.
Thought people would mostly criticize Party corruption while still supporting him.
Needed support from intellectuals and scientists.
Believed their input would improve policymaking.
Shift to represssion
Speech published, leading to the Anti-Rightist Campaign.
500,000 people persecuted.
Brutal Consequences: Public self criticism, forced labour + imprisonment, political purges of intellectuals
True intentions revealed: At March 1957 Party conference, referred to intellectuals as the enemy.
Suggests goal was to eliminate ideological opposition.
Yves Chevrier: The campaign was a "carnivorous flower ready to close upon its prey.”
Reinforced Mao’s authority and prevented future opposition.
Hundred Flowers Campaign became a pretext for the Anti-Rightist Movement.
Justified a political crackdown to maintain control.
Growing criticism + Mao's reaction
People criticized poor living conditions and Mao’s leadership directly.
Criticism increased beyond Party corruption, making Mao alarmed.
Mao had always distrusted intellectuals.
In February 1957, invited them to voice concerns but may have intended to trap critics.
Critics did not know what ‘acceptable’ criticism was.
Many unknowingly crossed boundaries, exposing themselves.
Mao's resignation as Chariman Mao
Announced decision to step down from Chairman of the PRC (equivalent to President).
Replaced by Liu Shaoqi as Chairman of the PRC.
Elevation of Liu to number two position in the Party hierarchy.
Liu seen as Mao's chosen successor to ensure an orderly transition.
Explained retirement as moving to the “second front.”
Symbolic Change: State Chairmanship was largely figurehead role.
Mao retained Chairmanship of CCP, maintaining power over Party’s ideological direction.
Impact of the Great Leap Forward (1958-1962)
Failure of the Great Leap: Led to severe strain on Mao’s leadership.
Power Struggles: Contributed to internal struggles within the CCP.
Mao’s Waning Influence: Found himself pushed out of day-to-day affairs.
Purges within the CCP: e.g., Peng Dehuai purged for criticizing the Great Leap (1959).
By 1962, serious divisions in the CCP leadership, weakening Mao’s influence.
Issue of leadership and purge of CCP
Purge of Gao Gang +Rao Shusi
Gao Gang: Head of Central Planning Commission, supported Mao’s policies.
Conflict: Gao and Rao tried challenging Zhou Enlai and Liu Shaoqi.
Mao's Action: Accused them of building independent power and underground activities.
Gao's End: Gao committed suicide in 1954.
Rao's Fate: Rao arrested, died in prison.
Outcome: Mao’s position strengthened, reminded cadres of their expendability.
Leadership issues
Debate within CCP allowed but needed Politburo support.
Once decisions made, all must follow for unity.
Mao had a special status but needed to win support.
Mao could suppress challenges, e.g., Yan'an Rectification (1942).
Mao's leadership was unquestioned after purges
Anti Feng Hu campaign
Intellectuals viewed with suspicion by the CCP.
Many intellectuals from bourgeois backgrounds.
Educated Chinese struggled with CCP’s restrictions on criticism.
Hu Feng: Intellectuals who opposed Party policies were persecuted.
Outcome: Reinforced CCP’s control over thought and expression.