Origins and development of authoritarian and single-party states

TOPIC 3

CHINA and MAO

Major Theme: Origins and nature of authoritarian and single –party states

What were the conditions that produced the authoritarian and single party state? i.e. Mao and the communist state.

Conditions…

1. China was a deeply troubled state at the beginning of the 20 th Century 2. China was forced to enter into a series of ‘unequal treaties’ with foreign powers. E.g. Britain, France, Germany and the USA 3. China, bitter and humiliated by foreign domination 4. Japan a significant threat in the region – defeated in the war of 1895

Conditions…

5. Chinese economy backward – High inflation, corruption 6. Industry and commerce under foreign control 7. Population large – doubled in the 19 th Century 8. Agriculture unable to meet demands of growing population 9. Qing dynasty unable to protect and provide for Chinese

Conditions…

Puyi was China’s last emperor

Conditions…

Revolution: 1911 Dr Sun Yat Sen: “A revolution against the world to join the world.” Dr Sun Yat Sen, president of the National Assembly – Republic of China established in 1912

Conditions…

Yuan Shikai

- Military Commander - Outmanoeuvred Dr Sun Yatsen - President of the Republic until 1916 - Conservative - Borrowed heavily from foreign powers - Gave in to Japanese demands for more territory

Conditions…

Era of Warlords.

1. Weakened the central government 2. Were subordinates of Yuan Shikai 3. Were provincial military leaders – individual rulers 4. Imposed their own laws 5. Ruthless in maintaining their control 6. Corrupt and resisted central government control

Conditions…

• • The May Fourth Movement – 1919 China humiliated at the Paris Peace Conferences – German territories given to Japan Chinese outraged = a series of anti government, anti-foreigner protests and demonstrations for a number of days

Conditions…

It was these conditions and this atmosphere that inspired Mao into political action.

May Fourth Movement Poster

Conditions…

• On May 4th, 1919, over 3,000 university students in Beijing gathered around Tiananmen Square to protest the final settlement of the Treaty of Versailles. The Chinese government, which had provided the Allies with nearly 100,000 labourers during the First World War, expected a favourable agreement for Chinese diplomatic interests at the Conference in Paris. Instead, the Treaty of Versailles proved to be humiliating for the Chinese government, as the provinces previously under Germany’s sphere of influence were now given to imperialist Japan. As a result, students’ groups and intellectuals, who were later joined by numerous members of the working class, initiated a protest that called for a government that could stand against Western imperialism. Eventually, the protests of May Fourth turned into a nationwide crusade calling for radical state reform as well as the beginning of a political and cultural movement towards modernity.

Major Theme: Origins and nature of authoritarian and single –party states

Emergence of Leaders: aims, ideology, support

Emergence of Mao aims, ideology, support.

Mao Profile: school 1893: Born in Hunan Province 1901 –1906: Attended primary 1912: Joined anti-Qing army in Hunan Mao in 1927 1912 – 1918: Trained as a teacher 1918: Joined the Hunan independence movement

Emergence of Mao aims, ideology, support.

1919: Worked as a librarian at Beijing University Helped to organise strikes in Hunan 1921: Became a founding member of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) 1923: Joined the Guomindang (GMD) 1924 – 1927: Involved in planning CCP – GMD alliance against the warlords 1927 – 1924 Created the Jiangxi Soviet

Emergence of Mao aims, ideology, support.

Mao recorded the savagery that become commonplace during the times that the warlords were trying to assert their authority.

During my student days in Hunan, the city was overrun by the forces of rival war lords – not once but half a dozen times. Twice the school was occupied by troops and all the school funds confiscated. The brutal punishments inflicted on the peasants included such things as gouging out eyes, ripping out tongues, disembowelling and decaptiation, slashing with knives and grinding with sand, burning with kerosene and branding with red- hot irons.

red- hot irons.

Emergence of Mao aims, ideology, support.

1930: Supressed a mutiny in the Red Army at Futian 1934 – 1935: Led the Long March to Yan’an 1935 – 1945: Created the Yanan Soviet 1942: Crushed opposition within the CCP 1945 – 1949 Led the CCP to victory over Jiang Jieshi and the Nationalists 1949: Declared the creation of the People’s Republic of China

Emergence of Mao aims, ideology, support.

Emergence of Mao aims, ideology, support.

• • • How did he become leader of the CCP?

Became a Marxist whilst studying and working in the library in Beijing – 1919 “all power grows out of the barrel of a gun” Took part in the May Fourth Movement in 1919 Founding member of the CCP - 1921

Emergence of Mao aims, ideology, support.

Emergence of Mao aims, ideology, support.

• • As ordered by the Comintern, CCP members joined the GMD in order to unite against foreign ‘imperialists’ 1927 – after the split with the GMD – Mao developed own brand of communism for the Chinese. FOCUS = the peasants It was Jiang Jieshi that turned against the communists!

Emergence of Mao aims, ideology, support.

‘The Japanese are a disease of the skin. The Communists are a disease of the heart’ Jiang Jieshi

Emergence of Mao aims, ideology, support.

• • • Attempted a peasant revolt in Hunan 1927 – failed!

Formed the communist Red Army Red Army = disciplined. Ordered to help peasants.

Propaganda poster

Emergence of Mao aims, ideology, support.

• • • • • • Six Principles of the Red Army Put back all doors when leaving a house Rice-stalk mattresses must all be bundles and returned Be polite. Help people when you can.

Give back everything you borrow, even if it’s only a needle Pay for all things broken, even if only a chopstick.

Don’t help yourself or search for things when people are not in their houses.

• • • • • Emergence of Mao aims, ideology, support.

Engages in guerrilla resistance against the Nationalists Sets up the Jiangxi Soviet (in the south). Dedicated to achieving a peasant revolution Frequently rejected Soviet Union orders. i.e. to set up revolution in the cities not the countryside Is ruthless against those who oppose or threaten him.

1930. “Futian incident” 4000 Red Army troops, regarded as rebels were tortured and executed.

Emergence of Mao aims, ideology, support.

• • • • Surrounded in the south – Mao chose to abandon Jiangxi in 1934 The Long March…..Mao emerges as an increasingly important organiser.

Dispute as to the direction of Long March. North or West towards Soviet Union.

Mao chooses/insists north – enhances credibility and reputation

Emergence of Mao aims, ideology, support.

Long March Mythology is born! 1934 - 1935

Emergence of Mao aims, ideology, support.

The conventional history of the march is that it involved "a skirmish every

day, a battle every two weeks"

although recently Jung Chang & Jon Halliday have argued that Chiang Kai shek let the Red Army go and that at least some of the battles were propaganda inventions. However there is little argument that conditions on the march were horrendous. Of the 90 to 100 thousand who set out only 7 to 8 thousand arrived. Those who survived the march went on to form the future cadre of the CCP and the Chinese state.

Emergence of Mao aims, ideology, support.

• • • • • Mao establishes himself in the Yan’an province 1935 Claims leadership of the Chinese Communist Party Proves to be a ‘haven’ for Communist sympathisers and supporters Mao writes a number of political and philosophical works . Mao expands his authority and influence by infiltrating and seizing nearby villages, landowners driven out or shot, land re-allocated to peasants.

Emergence of Mao aims, ideology, support.

• • Mao’s plan? Win support of the peasants.

How? Behave and act differently compared to the Nationalist armies and the warlord forces. (see the principles laid down my Mao) Examples: a) re-allocate land to the peasants b) Have associations of peasants working with the CCP to improve their conditions c) End corruption and high interest payments for peasants d) Have education and literacy programmes e) Provide hospitals and basic medical services

Emergence of Mao aims, ideology, support.

The Sprit of the Yan’an Soviet Propaganda Poster 1962.

Continue a Revolutionary Tradition.

Emergence of Mao aims, ideology, support.

• • • • Results: Peasants found CCP’s land policies attractive Party membership grew substantially Expanding party membership meant that volunteers for the Red Army also grew Mao’s support base and influence grows

Emergence of Mao aims, ideology, support.

• • • • HOWEVER: Reality??

Removal of landlords was often brutal and ruthless Peasants were ruled under an authoritarian system – villages had to conform to the CCP’s demands, otherwise punished Local affairs controlled by the CCP CCP could veto decisions and direct policy

Emergence of Mao aims, ideology, support.

• Yanan formalised Mao’s ideas. (Ideology) a) ardent, committed ‘nationalist.’ b) adopted communism in order to restore China to original greatness and pride c) not a ‘slave’ to Marxist theory – he interpreted the theory to suit China d) Chinese considerations always came before the Comintern and ideas of Leninism/Marxism

Emergence of Mao aims, ideology, support.

• • • Mao’s ideas. (Ideology) Ignored the stages in the

dialectic Definition: Dialectic = the dynamic force that drives history along a predestined path. Marxist Theory

Peasant revolution would lead the final proletariat revolution China did not have a large urban population to lead a proletarian revolution. Less that 4% of the population

Emergence of Mao aims, ideology, support.

• • • Mao’s ideas. (Ideology) He redefined the term ‘proletarian’ to mean an attitude rather than a ‘class’. No need to wait to develop an industrial working class. The peasants can achieve the revolution

“no power, however strong, can restrain them.” “The peasants are the sea; we are the fish. We live in the sea.” Not a class movement a national movement

Emergence of Mao aims, ideology, support.

• • • Japanese invasion in Manchuria – 1931 and full scale attack in 1937 GMD approached CCP to form a united front against the Japanese CCP expanded army and developed guerrilla tactics GMD emerged from the Sino-Japanese War (1937 – 1945) divided, demoralised and discredited

Emergence of Mao aims, ideology, support.

Sino-Japanese War (1937 – 1945)

• GMD lost the eastern Coastal region (Beijing, Shanghai and Nanjing) fell to the Japanese = Loss of credibility • GMD forces were less active in fighting compared to the Communists – lost support for the GMD WHY?

Jiang Jieshi was more interested in conserving his forces and weapons to fight the Communists

Emergence of Mao aims, ideology, support.

• • • • • WAR (with Japan) Continued… (Problems of the GMD) Weaknesses.

GMD mismanaged the economy Lost the best troops during the Japanese War The GMD alienated the peasantry GMD = Corruption – Supplies sent by the USA was sold by GMD officials on the black market GMD relations with intellectuals and students worsened

Emergence of Mao aims, ideology, support.

Civil War

• • • • Strengths of the CCP At the end of the Japanese war the PLA had access to weapons taken from the Japanese PLA had able generals. (Lin Bao) Mao had loyalty from his forces Under Mao, Communist forces eventually became an effective, disciplined and modern army Guerilla tactics in the initial stages of the war maintained pressure

Emergence of Mao aims, ideology, support.

Civil War

• • Strengths of the CCP Viewed by supporters as Chinese compared to Nationalists who had foreign financial and military support Mao inspired confidence – personality cult (Re-read page 122 ‘strengths and weaknesses of the GMD and CCP/PLA)

Major Theme: Origins and nature of authoritarian and single –party states

Totalitarianism: the aim and extent to which it was achieved

Totalitarianism...

Definition and characteristics:  is an extension and intensifying of authoritarianism  Individuals are subordinate to the state and personal autonomy is not tolerated  The regime seeks to control all aspects of life: political life, economic, moral, personal, institutional

Totalitarianism...

 Power is exercised pervasively, affecting every person  The lives of the population, collectively and individually are subject to the direction of the state.

 Complete obedience. Consequences are harsh and brutal for non-compliance with the state  Totalitarian systems base their right to absolute control to a basic ideology – it explains why they hold power and justifies its exercise

Totalitarianism...

 Only one political party allowed to exist  Power is in the hands of the leader who controls the party  the leader claims that his authority derives from the immutable laws of historical development  The state maintains social and political control through terror

Totalitarianism...

 The state crushes opposition through control of the media  The state exercises central control of the economy  The regime uses the armed forces and law enforcement bodies to operate a police state  The state uses censorship and propaganda to promote the idea of a faultless leader

Totalitarianism...

Propanda posters of a faultless leader;

Totalitarianism...

Totalitarianism...

 Religion is either outlawed or persecuted as an affront to state ideology or exploited as another means of controlling the people  Independent institutions are suppressed or outlawed. E.g. trade unions, religious organisations  The legal system is politicized so that it becomes an instrument of state control

Totalitarianism...

 The state seeks to reshape culture so that it conforms to state ideology.

 Internal opponents are identified and persecuted  An aggressive stance is adopted towards external ideological enemies

Totalitarianism...

As you study and review: To what extent was this (a totalitarian state) achieved in China?

Support with evidence!