Ideals + historiography

Question 1

Mass line

Answer 1

learn from the masses and develop programmes providing revolutionary leadership: leadership ‘from the people, to the people’ immerse himself among them

Question 2

Democratic dictatorship

Answer 2

• 1940 work On New Democracy – ‘bourgeois-democratic’ phase
• State power exercised through a People’s Democratic Dictatorship through four ‘revolutionary classes’ – peasantry, proletariat, petit-bourgeoisie, national capitalist
• democratic dictatorship: ‘… democracy for the people and dictatorship over the reactionaries …’

Question 3

Democratic dictatorship Fenby view

Answer 3

In the past, dissent had been allowed so long as discipline was maintained once a decision had been taken; now, merely questioning the Chairman was outlawed.

Question 4

Land ownership

Answer 4

The heart of land reform is the equal distribution of the land of the feudal classes

Question 5

Attitude towards intellectuals

Answer 5

• the proletariat should unite with all working people and others who are oppressed, the national bourgeoisie, the intellectuals and other patriots
• adopt a careful attitude towards students, teachers, professors, scientific workers, art workers and ordinary intellectuals

Question 6

Attitude to violence

Answer 6

The other side is that we must insist on killing less and must strictly forbid killing without discrimination. To advocate killing more or killing without discrimination is entirely wrong

Question 7

Attitude to centralization

Answer 7

Therefore, except where conditions call for centralized management, we must oppose the wrong view which favours centralizing everything, regardless of circumstances, and which dares not give full rein to decentralized management.

Question 8

Chang and Halliday - terorrisation

Answer 8

• Mao began systematic terrorisation of the population, to induce long-term conformity and obedience
• His aim was to scare and brutalise the entire population.

Question 9

CCP - people supporting government

Answer 9

• The whole people have supported the government by delivering grain, paying taxes and buying state bonds.

Question 10

CCP - class struggle

Answer 10

The Communist Party foresaw this inevitable class struggle.