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Discussion . In what ways might the Four Olds have threatened Mao's vision of a classless state? China's traditional culture was based on class divisions, family loyalty, and Confucian ideals, whereas Mao wanted everyone focused only on the good of the state.
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Discussion • In what ways might the Four Olds have threatened Mao's vision of a classless state? China's traditional culture was based on class divisions, family loyalty, and Confucian ideals, whereas Mao wanted everyone focused only on the good of the state.
The Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution • Ideal of Permanent Revolution: Mao continued to seek a classless society. He encouraged "permanent revolution" as a means to break with China's past. • The Cultural Revolution: In 1966 Mao launched another movement, the Cultural Revolution. It aimed to create a proletarian culture. Mao's ideas were circulated in what came to be called his Little Red Book. • The Red Guards: Mao created a group called the Red Guards to implement the Cultural Revolution. The Red Guards were told to eliminate aspects of earlier Chinese culture as well as elements associated with capitalism. They destroyed property and attacked people accused of deviating from Mao's ideology. • Death of Mao: As a result of the excesses of the Cultural Revolution, Mao lost support in key groups, including many military officers and some members of the Communist Party. After he died in 1976, leadership passed to Deng Xiaoping, who ended the Cultural Revolution and implemented reforms.
Discussion • Why do you think Mao believed that a state of permanent revolution was important? Mao realized how difficult it was to change people's thinking and behavior, so that major changes would be possible only through an ongoing effort.
Background • A somewhat different theory of permanent revolution had been set forth by Leon Trotsky, a leader of the Bolshevik Revolution. According to Trotsky, economic change had to occur in the worldwide economic system, rather than just a national one, because economic development within any country depended on the world market. Trotsky believed that the Russian Revolution could be permanently successful only if revolutions also occurred in other countries, particularly those of western Europe.
China and the Cold War • Friendship with Soviet Union: China signed an agreement of friendship with the Soviet Union in 1950. It also supported "liberation" movements in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. • Isolation: China supported North Korea in the Korean War, alienating Western nations. Relations with the Soviet Union soured when China expressed disappointment with the Soviets' lack of interest in spreading communism worldwide. • Improvement in relations with United States: When disputes with the Soviet Union escalated to the point of minor military altercations, Chinese leaders decided to pursue better relations with the United States. This culminated in the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries in 1979.
Discussion • How did China's relations with the United States and with the Soviet Union change between 1950 and the 1970s? China was originally aligned with the Soviet Union and isolated from the United States but that in the 1960s and 1970s China's relationship with the Soviet Union deteriorated and its relationship with the United States improved.
Discussion • How had the leadership of China changed by the time the United States resumed diplomatic relations with the country in 1979? Mao had died in 1976 and a group of practical-minded reformers, led by Deng Xiaoping, had taken over in China.
