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| Post-Mao, the doctrine has been identified with ] of the Cambodian ], the ] of Peru, and various extreme communist groups in the developed world. | Post-Mao, the doctrine has been identified with ] of the Cambodian ], the ] of Peru, and various extreme communist groups in the developed world. | ||
| Ironically, despite being listed as one of the ], the government of the People's Republic of China has discarded | |||
| ⚫ | Some scholars argue that China's rapid industrialization and relatively quick recovery from the brutal period of civil wars 1911-1949 was a positive impact of Maoism, and contrast its development specifically to that of ], ] and ]. One argument is that Mao's strong personality and doctrine served the same purpose as American executive and military leadership, and the ], in Europe - an extremely simple theory of the origin of modern ]: ], ], and ] itself. | ||
| revolutionary Maoism as an official ideology. Along Mao Zedong himself | |||
| is regarded in the official history as a great revolutionary leader for | |||
| his role in fighting the Japanese and creating the People's Republic of China, Maoism as implemented after 1958 is regarded as an economic and political disaster. Specifically, within Chinese Marxist ideology, Maoism is regarded as committing the errors of left deviationism and being based on a cult of personality. | |||
| Some, including many in the ] and ] activists see many of the repressive aspects of the current PRC government as the result of Maoism. | |||
| However, almost all Chinese scholars and most Western scholars disagree. | |||
| Some conservative scholars, which include most who are sympathetic to | |||
| the current Chinese government, argue that Maoism was a disaster because | |||
| it created revolutionary instablity which impeded economic growth. Liberal | |||
| scholars tend to fault Maoism for its dictatorial and anti-democratic nature. | |||
| ⚫ | Some Western scholars argue that China's rapid industrialization and relatively quick recovery from the brutal period of civil wars 1911-1949 was a positive impact of Maoism, and contrast its development specifically to that of ], ] and ]. One argument is that Mao's strong personality and doctrine served the same purpose as American executive and military leadership, and the ], in Europe - an extremely simple theory of the origin of modern ]: ], ], and ] itself. | ||
| See: ], ] | See: ], ] | ||
Revision as of 19:15, 29 March 2002
Maoism is a variant of communism identified with Mao Zedong and the Chinese Communist Party as its doctrine developed from the 1930s to the 1960s. It emphasizes revolutionary mass mobilization, village level industries independent of the outside world (one infamous campaign urged each and every Chinese to melt down industrial pots and pans to smelt their own iron from scratch), deliberate organizing of mass military and economic power where necessary to defend from outside threat or where centralization keeps corruption under supervision, and strong control of the arts and sciences.
Mao's doctrine is best summarized in the Little Red Book of Mao Zedong, which was distributed to everyone in China as the basis of revolutionary education.
Post-Mao, the doctrine has been identified with Pol Pot of the Cambodian Khmer Rouge, the Shining Path of Peru, and various extreme communist groups in the developed world.
Ironically, despite being listed as one of the four cardinal principles, the government of the People's Republic of China has discarded revolutionary Maoism as an official ideology. Along Mao Zedong himself is regarded in the official history as a great revolutionary leader for his role in fighting the Japanese and creating the People's Republic of China, Maoism as implemented after 1958 is regarded as an economic and political disaster. Specifically, within Chinese Marxist ideology, Maoism is regarded as committing the errors of left deviationism and being based on a cult of personality.
Some, including many in the Chinese democracy movement and human rights activists see many of the repressive aspects of the current PRC government as the result of Maoism.
However, almost all Chinese scholars and most Western scholars disagree. Some conservative scholars, which include most who are sympathetic to the current Chinese government, argue that Maoism was a disaster because it created revolutionary instablity which impeded economic growth. Liberal scholars tend to fault Maoism for its dictatorial and anti-democratic nature.
Some Western scholars argue that China's rapid industrialization and relatively quick recovery from the brutal period of civil wars 1911-1949 was a positive impact of Maoism, and contrast its development specifically to that of Southeast Asia, Russia and India. One argument is that Mao's strong personality and doctrine served the same purpose as American executive and military leadership, and the Marshall Plan, in Europe - an extremely simple theory of the origin of modern continental trading blocs: NAFTA, EU, and China itself.
See: Mao Zedong, communism