Ideology of Mao Zedong = Maoism

-the vision, policy, ideology, and political thoughts of Mao Zedong and his associates in the Chinese
Communist Party

-focuses on the social class systems, industrialization of agrarian urban forces.

-Revolution=geming=violent means must be used to impeach a ruler of heaven’s mandate.

=human consciousness, instead of material conditions, will determine history; to carry out
change

=destruction; “no construction happens without destruction; only when destruction is under
way does the process of construction begin”

-Features:

 theory of New Democracy- socialism could only be achieved through popular, democratic, and
anti-imperialist movement with the communists in charge
 People’s War – revolutionary struggle by the majority against the exploiting class; done through
revolt and guerilla warfare.
 Mass Line- no separation between the party and the people whatsoever; the masses must be
involved in the revolution.

-Goals:

 Mobilization of the masses

-Peasants to become the main force of the Chinese revolution.
-Susceptible to be an orthodox Marxist-Leninist Communism, but its intended outcome is
industrialization of production, whereas Maoism is industrialization of mostly agricultural
production

Ideology of Deng Xiaoping

Deng Xiaoping Theory = adapts Marxism-Leninism and Mao Zedong Thought to the existing socio-
economic China

-View of Deng, leadership was twofold: modernizing the Chinese economy; preserving the ideological
unity of the Communist Party of China

Goals:

 Improve agriculture
 Improve industry
 ^^^ national defense
 ^^^ science and technology
-Adaptation with the Four Cardinal Principles = preserve ideological unity between CPC

1. Basic spirit of communism

2. Political system of the PRC; people’s democratic dictatorship
3. Leadership of the CPC
4. Marxism-Leninism and Mao Zedong Thought

*Because of this ideology, it has been the foundation for China’s success; it brought an end to the
suffering of the Chinese people under Mao’s mismanagement and disastrous campaigns. (n.a., 1986)
(Jian, n.d.)

(Chang, 1996) (Johnston, 2013)

References
Chang, M. H. (1996). Communist and Post-Communist Studies.

Jian, C. (n.d.). Maoism. Retrieved from Encyclopedia.com: https://www.encyclopedia.com/philosophy-

and-religion/other-religious-beliefs-and-general-terms/miscellaneous-religion/maoism

Johnston, C. (2013, September 28). What Deng taught Xi Jinping: pragmatism trumps ideology.
Retrieved from East Asia Forum: https://www.eastasiaforum.org/2013/09/28/what-deng-
taught-xi-jinping-pragmatism-trumps-ideology/

n.a. (1986). Theory and Practice of Mao. In n.a., Class Struggle.