CHINA FROM 1949-1989

The developments of the People's Republic of China from 1949 to 1989

Table of Contents

Introduction2

Discussion2

Socialist transformation under Mao Zedong (1949-1976):2

Economic reforms and the rise of Deng Xiaoping (1976-1989):5

Conclusion7

References8

The developments of the People's Republic of China from 1949 to 1989

Introduction

The policies of Communist China have oscillated between moderation and radicalism. Despite this oscillation between the moderate and radical poles; however, one can discern some basic principles or patterns that could be called characteristics of contemporary China. In light of the above statement, this paper discusses the developments of the People's Republic of China from 1949 to 1989.

Discussion

The developmental history of People's Republic of China, from the year 1949 to the year 1989, could be divided in two parts. The first one was under the leadership of Mao Zeong, which is from the year 1949 to the year 1976. In this period significant socialist transformations took place, which would be further discussed in this paper. The second one is the period from the year 1976 to the year 1989 in which considerable economic reforms took place and the rise of Deng Xiaoping was observed (Ostendorf, 2011), which is further discussed in detail in this paper.

Socialist transformation under Mao Zedong (1949-1976):

On the 1st of October of the year 1949, after the victory of the Communist forces of Mao Zedong over the Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek's (who fled to Taiwan) forces and subsequent to the Chinese Civil War, the People's Republic of China's founding was declared by Mao Zedong. The first goal of Mao Zedong was the system of land ownership's complete over haul, and wide-ranging land reforms. The former landlord ownership system of tenant peasants and farm land in China was substituted with a system of distribution that favored the landless/poor peasants. On the theoretical work and class struggle strong emphasis was laid by Mao Zedong, and in the year 1953 a number of campaigns began for persecuting former merchants and landlords, which included the execution of landlords that were more powerful. Within the country the trafficking of drugs in addition to the foreign investments got wiped out extensively. Numerous infrastructures of cultural and historical significance in addition to a number of artifacts were shattered by the Maoist regime, because they were believed to be the aide memoires of the 'feudal' past.

It was believed by Mao that socialism will ultimately success on each of the other ideology that was present, and after the initial 5 year plan that was based on an economy, which was controlled centrally in a soviet style, Mao Zedong in the year 1958 embarked on the grand venture of the Great Leap Forward, starting an exceptional collectivization process in the rural part soft e country. The utilization of iron smelters (communally organized) was urged by Mao Zedong for increasing the production of steel, deviating farmers away from agriculture in such a way that resulted in the perishing of huge amounts of unharvested crops. As discussed by Conrad Schirokauer in the book “Modern East Asia: A Brief History” that Mao Zedong ...