Humanity: Mao Zedong's Impact On The West

Jiang Humanity Professor March 13, 2018 Mao’s Impact on the West Mao Zedong’s legacy is obscured by his direct involvement in the Chinese Cultural Revolution. However, the late Mao is fondly remembered in the west due to the significant impact of his ideas on the Cold War (Ross 2005). His ideology had a great impact on the subterranean social, cultural and political transformation. Surprisingly, young Chinese lack adequate knowledge and understanding on the role of Mao Zedong in China’s social and cultural transformation (Schram 2014). Their insufficient knowledge on Maoism has been occasioned by the fact that the Chinese government has banned the proliferation of Mao Zedong’s ideas. Most importantly, Chinese citizens believe that Zedong’s role in the Cultural Revolution was an error and hence he does not merit recognition as a revolutionary legend. Still, China is divided into two schools of thought on the role of Mao Zedong in the Cultural Revolution (Maoism 2016). One school of thought holds the view that Mao was a great Chinese revolutionist and hence regards him in high esteem. Ironically, this school of thought ignores the adverse impact of the Cultural Revolution and rather chooses to focus on its positive contributions. Mao’s proponents harbor fond memories of the ancient days of Maoism and even wish a return to this era while his critics vehemently deny that his teachings had any positive contribution on the Chinese society (Maoism 2016). This school of thought only focuses on the negative impacts of Maoism and overlooks its positive contributions. Nonetheless, unlike the Chinese society which is indifferent and divided on Maoism and its impact, the opposite is true in the West where Maoism is acknowledged and respected due to its immense contribution to the cold war revolution (Schram 2014). It’s an undeniable fact that Maoism greatly influenced western politics. Mao’s precepts and specifically his ideals such as his perspective on self-criticism, youth uprising as well as propagation and advancement of consciousness were well received in the west. In fact, these teachings had a more positive impact in the west as opposed to China itself (Ross 2005). Despite the apparent Chinese lack of consensus on the role of Maoism, the factual truth is that it is impossible to cognize Chinese cultural and political transformation without making reference to the infamous Maoism Cultural Revolution (Schram 2014). Even several decades after Mao’s death, Maoism is still not welcomed in China. This is evident from the fact that China still upholds a ban on independent Cultural Revolution research. According to the Chinese authorities, Maoism was a mistake and as such it does not need to be studied. This ban seems to have been purposely intended to cut off the chaotic Chinese past, thereby facilitating the populations focus on the future of China (Ross 2005). Perhaps this could have been triggered by the belief that permitting research into the Cultural Revolution could provoke a revolutionary awakening among the rural populace, and hence bring about a political transformation which could adversely impact the country’s economic growth. Nevertheless, this ban seems to have succeeded in rallying the citizens towards economic reconstruction rather than focusing on the past. Nevertheless, the Cultural Revolution ban has had a negative psychological impact since sweeping the country’s dark history under the carpet only serves to worsen an already bad situation as it impedes on the country’s healing process (Maoism 2016). China needs to confront her past in order to forge ahead as a united nation (Ross 2005). Thus the ban on the study of Cultural Revolution needs to be lifted to herald a new chapter in the country social, economic and political history. The Cultural Revolution made numerous attempts to obscure party reform discussions, not forgetting that there had been numerous similar attempts since 1942 (Maoism 2016). More importantly, the Cultural Revolution sought to formulate a rather more radical stance and approach toward dealing with what was considered as a bureaucratic degeneration arguing that it was usurping political party democracy (Schram 2014). Notwithstanding the negative effects of the Great Proletarian, Maoism produced great ideals that were exported to the West. The term Maoism encompasses a wide range of policies and principles that were enforced for a period that spans several eras in Chinese history. These eras include the disciplined Vanguardism era during the Yenan years as well as the Heroic era (Ross 2005). Additionally, it also refers to the Cultural Revolution Crusade era. The current policies in force in modern day China have no semblance to Maoism. More particularly, the current Chinese rapid modernization policies are a direct opposite of the policies that Mao Zedong and the Cultural Revolution Movement advocated for (Schram 2014). The current Chinese modernization policies are predicated on materialism, an ideology that Zedong considered as a social vice and viewed with disdain. Also referred to as ‘economism’, the modern Chinese social economic philosophy is underscored by the notion that socialism does not necessarily equate to lack and poverty but that it should lead to the general good of the society (Ross 2005). Subsequently, the re-introduction of Maoism would contradict the general tenets and precepts upon which the current Chinese economic growth policies are hinged. Maoism includes radical and revolutionary social and political initiatives such as the formation of student Red Guards and other labor revolutionary movements that succeeded in deposing local CCP officials from political office (Schram 2014). The apparent difference between ‘economism’ and the philosophy underpinned by bureaucratic and authoritarian rule is exemplified in the New Deal provided by Deng Xiaoping in 1978. Deng asserts that it’s indeed possible for a society to attain economic freedom and still lack other pertinent forms of freedom (Cook 2014). In modern day China, economic growth is the overarching national focus given the frequent government pronouncements of growth in foreign direct investments and foreign trade volumes. Therefore, the edicts of Maoism would have the potential to provoke a revolt among the Chinese youth which could destabilize or overthrow the communist party regime (Ross 2005). The teachings of Maoism include ideologies and methodology for planning and executing a revolution that was formulated by Mao Zedong and his followers within the Communist Party. The doctrine was developed for a period spanning the 1920s till Mao’s death in 1976 (Schram 2014). Zedong introduced a distinct revolutionary formula that was independent of other revolutionary doctrines such as Marxism, Leninism and other Chinese teachings such as Confucianism (Ross 2005). Mao was distinct from other Chinese revolutionary leaders. He was a combative nationalist who espoused the martial ideals. This martial spirit later became a key tenet of Maoism. Still, Maoism was largely admired in ...