Consolidation of the Communist State
"Political power grows out of the barrel of a gun" - Mao.
What do you know about China before Mao?
Do the following activity to find out or refresh your memory
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The stepped process towards socialism in China
As discussed China did not immediately enact fully socialist reforms following the victory of the PLA in the civil war. Instead it is easy to consider the process one of gradual steps towards consolidating the CCP regime.
In your reading be mindful of the following factors that Mao and the party had to contend with, try to consider why they would have led to the implementation of some of the early economic policies.;
- The massive imbalance in the Chinese economy - 80% of the population were peasants.
- The inefficient agricultural system that produced regular famines and very little surplus for export or the industrial centres.
- The need for development of industry but the lack of expertise within the CCP.
- The existence of pockets of opposition.
Read through the second chapter of the textbook and consider the following questions.
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