Transcript Origins and development of authoritarian and single

CHINA
and MAO
TOPIC 3
Establishment of authoritarian and
single party states

Methods: Force, legal
 The Communism that Mao developed in Jiangxi and
Yan’an provinces were oppressive
 Discipline and obedience was required
 Members had to resist ‘wrong thinking’. Aware of
the constant struggle – therefore Mao launched
‘rectification of conduct’ campaign. Members of the
party had to engage in public self criticism
Establishment of authoritarian and
single party states
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 Party members were obliged to read, study
prescribed texts – Mao’s writings featured
prominently
 Those members who were deemed to be ‘polluted’
by revisionist ideas were imprisoned or tortured
 Thousands were subject to death, torture or
imprisonment.
“Some comrades see only the system of democratic
centralism; they do not understand that the party’s
interests are above personal or sectional interests.” Mao
Establishment of authoritarian and
single party states
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Consequences of the Rectification Movement:
 Mao consolidated his position and rid himself of those
who challenged or opposed him
 He triumphed over the ‘pro-Moscow’ wing of the party
 He had begun to move towards cult status in Yanan
 Chinese communism was identified with Mao personally
= Maoism
 Mao’s was elected Chairman of the Central Committee of
the CCP in 1943 – formal recognition of his dominance of
the party

Images of Rectification
Campaigns. Methods
used to consolidate
Mao’s dominance.
Establishment of authoritarian and
single party states

Methods: Force, legal
Mass mobilisation campaigns. (between 1950 and 1952)
1. The resist America and aid Korea campaign (1950)
- designed to increase the suspicion of foreigners
- especially USA, due to involvement in Korea
- missionaries arrested
- churches closed – priests and nuns expelled
- China closed to foreigners – except Russians
- institutions linked to the West closed down or
strictly supervised
Establishment of authoritarian and
single party states
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2. The suppression of counter-revolutionaries
campaign (1950 – 1951)
- links to he GMD, criminal gangs and religious
sects subject to public executions and
denunciations
3. The three antis campaign
- against corruption, waste and obstruction
Establishment of authoritarian and
single party states
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3. The three antis campaign
- against corruption, waste and obstruction
Targets?
Both communists and non-communists.
Managers, state officials, police, party cadres
How?
Humiliation and group pressure used to assist
conformity
Establishment of authoritarian and
single party states
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4. The Five antis campaign 1952
- against bribery, tax evasion, theft of state property,
cheating in government contracts and economic
espionage
Targets?
employers
How?
Workers’ organisations investigate employer’s business
affairs. They faced fines, property confiscations,
imprisonment, work in labour camps.
Establishment of authoritarian and
single party states
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A landlord on
trial in 1953
Establishment of authoritarian and
single party states
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 The government deliberately created an atmosphere
of fear and uncertainty
 The Chinese people were encouraged to inform on
anyone they knew who was unwilling to accept the
new regime.
 Special government department drew up a file on
every suspected Chinese person. If they were
deemed suspicious, punished by not obtaining
housing or work
Establishment of authoritarian and
single party states

Mass Mobilisation – Purpose, Results?
 Mao feared ‘counter-revolutionary elements in the
society.
 Propaganda, self-criticism and rectification campaigns
were used to stamp out individualism. Citizens
encouraged to inform on each other for the benefit of
China!
 1951 – 6500 intellectuals, professors, forced to undertake
courses in communist thinking.
 Artists, writers who did not support Mao – imprisoned.
Establishment of authoritarian and
single party states

Purges 1954
 Mao began first major purge of leading members of
the CCP – after debate regarding the launch of the
five-year plan.
 Those to go were Gao Gang and Rao Shushi
 Gao Gang committed suicide rather than face
disgrace
 Rao Shushi = life imprisonment
Establishment of authoritarian and
single party states
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The Hundred Flowers Campaign.
Establishment of authoritarian and
single party states
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Hundred Flowers Campaign 1956 – 1957
 Mao lifted censorship – asked the people to provide
‘constructive’ conversations as to how to promote
progress in China
 Initially participation slow – but then government
received big reponse.
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
Letters
Magazine artcles
Rallies in the streets
Posters appeared
Establishment of authoritarian and
single party states
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What did they complain about?
• Political corruption
• Russian influence
• Low living standards
• Censorship
• Economic corruption
• Privileged lifestyle of the party cadres
• And the leadership itself
Establishment of authoritarian and
single party states
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Result?
 Mao shut the hundred flowers campaign, re imposed
censorship and punished those who had criticised
him.
 The Hundred Flowers campaign ended any criticism
from intellectuals
 Was it a trap? Or a genuine desire to encourage
progress?
Establishment of authoritarian and
single party states
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The anti – rightist campaign (1957)
 After the 100 flowers campaign – those who had
criticised Mao were branded at ‘rightist’. (as opposed
to ‘leftist – communists)
 Half a million subjected to persecution,
imprisonment, ‘re-education’, public shootings
Establishment of authoritarian and
single party states
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Criticize Rightist Deviationism (1976)
Campaign to Suppress
Counterrevolutionaries
Establishment of authoritarian and
single party states
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Propaganda in China
 Propaganda was very important for communist rule
in China
 Used for mass indoctrination
 PLA helped to indoctrinate and reinforce political
messages
 Propaganda used to spread ideology, encourage
activism and promote role models of selfless workers
and soldiers
Establishment of authoritarian and
single party states
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Propaganda
 Posters
 Media
 Education system
 Literature
 Films
 Theatre
 Music
 Radio and television
Establishment of authoritarian and
single party states
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Government:
How did Mao organise his government in
order to establish himself and his party as
an authoritarian and single party state?
Establishment of authoritarian and
single party states
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In Beijing, on the 1st October 1949, Mao formally
declared the People’s Republic of China (PRC) to have
come into being.
His political approach was essentially simple:
China was to be a one-party state and the people were
to act in total conformity to the dictates of the new
government.
The Yan’an years had been preparation for this.
Establishment of authoritarian and
single party states
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Mao,
proclaiming the
People’s
Republic of
China
October 1949
Establishment of authoritarian and
single party states
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 After years of wars and turmoil, Mao had to
establish stable and effective government.
 He initially brought together non-communist parties
and other groups and had a temporary constitution –
BUT! … there was NO doubt that the Communists
were in power!
 Big business, country landlords and prominent GMD
leaders were not allowed to vote
Establishment of authoritarian and
single party states
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 KEY FACT: The Chinese Communist Party was the
only party allowed to govern in China under Mao
 Petty bourgeoisie were given some civil rights
alongside the peasants and workers. Mao used their
expertise in order to govern regions.
 As Communist Party cadres developed expertise and
skills they replaced non-communists.
 1954: Formal constitution established: China a single
party state
Establishment of authoritarian and
single party states
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 Mao: Chairman of the National People’s Congress =
Head of Government
 Beneath him – Two Vice Chairmen and council of
ministers headed by the prime minister: Zhou Enlai
Mao and Zhou Enlai
Establishment of authoritarian and
single party states
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 The main business of government was centered on
the Communist Party
 The Communist party made policy decisions
 Army officials, heads of factories and villages, heads
of schools and universities were all communist party
members
 The country was organised! Villages, streets, offices,
factories, towns, schools had to regularly meet and
learn/hear about government plans and policies.
Establishment of authoritarian and
single party states
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 The country was organised! Villages, streets, offices,
factories, towns, schools had to regularly meet and
learn/hear about government plans and policies.
 The people could make comments and this would be
passed on through the hierarchical model to the
POLITBURO. In this way the ‘people’ could
participate, inform and influence official decisions.
(In Theory!) What was the reality?
Establishment of authoritarian and
single party states
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Propaganda
Poster
1950’s.
School
Meeting
Establishment of authoritarian and
single party states
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Military Control
 1950 = Reunification Campaign.
a)
b)
c)
Used PLA Armies to invade Tibet.
West and South to ensure provinces are loyal to Mao’s
China.
Purpose: To improve local conditions e.g. road building
(which it did) but also to impose martial law and repress
independence movements.
 High level government posts were filled by officers of the
PLA. i.e. Military Commander and the Political
Commissar
 PLA loyal to Mao!
Establishment of authoritarian and
single party states
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Successes of the New Communist Party of China.
 Living standards improved
 Inflation reduced
 Crime and corruption were checked
 Drug dealers, prostitutes and criminal gangs
outlawed
 Law and order improved
 Citizens involved in helping to rebuild a new stable
and efficient society BUT…..under the supervision of
the Communist part cadres.
Establishment of authoritarian and
single party states
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Successes of the New Communist Party of China.
 Job security improved
 Stable income
 Food supplies, housing better organised and
controlled
 Establishment of organisations e.g. women’s groups,
children’s groups, youth groups
 Committees (represented by residents) dealt with
health, resolved disputes
Establishment of authoritarian and
single party states
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Successes of the New Communist Party of China.
 Water supplies and sanitation improved in cities
 Education campaigns to improve health
 Death rates fell
 More doctors and nurses trained – BUT….regarded
as intellectuals = conflict
 So, it meant that medics were replaced with a lower
skilled quality – worked with peasants giving basic
treatments
Establishment of authoritarian and
single party states
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Nature, extent and treatment of opposition.
1) Provinces and regions that were not loyal to Mao
underwent military takeovers. Ruthless
reunification strategies used. E.g. Tibet – imposed
a terror regime. All Tibetan culture and identity
was erased. Now Chinese!
2) Political Opposition: “Anti campaigns” 3 Antis
and 5 Antis – aimed to destroy those that were the
remnants of the ‘capitalist class’. PLA assisted in
the campaigns
Establishment of authoritarian and
single party states

Nature, extent and treatment of opposition.
Terror Tactics.
 “Defending the people from their enemies” – Mao used
terror as a basic control method
 1949 – there were over 10 political parties in China.
 GMD
 Democratic League
 Groups from the Nationalists
 By 1952 – all had disappeared – repressed, destroyed –
political purges – accompanied by mass campaigns.
Attacks on ‘counter-revolutionaries’ and ‘imperialists’
Establishment of authoritarian and
single party states

Nature, extent and treatment of opposition.
Mass killings
Who?
 Crime gangs
Enforce Conformity
How?
Created an organised system of informers
Re- allocation of land: ‘anti-landlords’
 Property of landlords confiscated – re-distributed to peasants.
 Many went on public trial – denounced as enemies of China
 Est: 1 million landlords killed during the campaign (1950s)
Establishment of authoritarian and
single party states

How informers worked within China:
 Neighbours spied on neighbours
 Workers snooped on their friends
 Children reported on their parents
 Each street or apartment block had officially appointed
‘watchers’ kept local CCP officials informed
 Community associations, which were set up to help each
other were in fact an important way of exerting control.
THIS POLITICISED THE COUNTRY!
Labelling people became a chief means of control.
No independent thinking! No dissent allowed!