Chinese Cultural Revolution
The Great
Proletarian Cultural Revolution that took place in the Peoples
Republic of China (PRC) was concerned with the attainment of power
within the Communist Party of China. This struggle for power
resulted into various social, political and economic problems in the
country, further leading to a civil war amongst major sections of
Chinese society and ultimately the entire China.
The Cultural
Revolution was formed on May 16, 1966 by Mao Zedong, who was the
Chairman of the Communist Party of China. The idea behind the
campaign was to relieve China of its liberal bourgeoisie
components and continue with the revolutionary struggle. This is
also considered as a method used by Mao to regain his control over
the party after his trajectory defeat in the Great Leap Forward
against his rivals Liu Shaogi and Deng Xiaoping. Mao put the
Cultural Revolution to an end in 1969. However, the same term is
today also used to depict the period between 1969 and the seizure of
the Gang of Four in 1976. Mao encouraged his principal lieutenants
called the Red Guards to fight his assumed enemies and help him in
taking a control over the state and party equipments, by replacing
the Central Committee and putting the Cultural Revolution Committee
on its place, while he also wanted the local governments to be
replaced with revolutionary committees during the period 1966-1968.
This was followed by huge violence and chaos, and millions of people
were either killed or persecuted.
The Resolution on
Certain Questions in the History of Our Party Since the Founding of
the People's Republic of China approved on
June 27,
1981,
detailed every aspect of the Communist Party of China on the
Cultural Revolution and the role of Mao Zedong. It also states that
the revolution was mistakenly led by Mao Zedong, after certain
manipulations done by Lin Biao and Jian Qing. This further resulted
into serious loss to the Party as well as the Chinese people.
Even today, the
Cultural Revolution is treated as a sensitive issue in the Peoples
Republic of China. Many events within the revolution have still not
been described properly and historical views in opposition to the
1981 Resolution are also censored.
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