HFC context

Question 1

What was Mao’s analogy for opening critism?

Answer 1

‘Let a hundred flowers bloom; let a hundred schools of thought contend’

Question 2

Who did Mao consider to be intellectuals?

Answer 2

• Anyone who had recieved and education from a uni or institute of higher education
• In Mao’s views, anyone who didnt have a ‘proper job’. E.g teachers writers, artists, lawyers

Question 3

Why did Mao dislike intellectuals?

Answer 3

• Many people with uni degrees had been educated in institutions ran by western orginisations Educated peple were open to debate and free expression
• Higher education in China was restricted to the wealthy who could afford it meaning many intellectuals had bourgeoise backgrounds

Question 4

Opposition to the campaign within the party

Answer 4

Many leading figures in the party did not agree with the campaign and feared encouraging critism from intellectuals would:

• create an unstoppable wave of critism
• undermine party authority
• threaten the exsistence of the regime