China’s Cultural Revolution - Mao

At different times and locations, societies can experience revolutionary

change, due to a variety of causes and often with long-lasting
consequences. One such monumental period of upheaval occurred
during China's Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution. Initiated by Mao
Zedong in May 1966, this decade-long movement aimed to consolidate
power within the Communist party, resulting in widespread chaos,
violence, and social upheaval. In this overview, we delve into the key
aspects of the Cultural Revolution, exploring its origins, impact, and
enduring legacy.

What was it and when did it begin?

The Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution, initiated by Mao Zedong in May 1966, aimed to consolidate his
control over the Communist party by mobilizing the masses. It resulted in a decade of political and social chaos,
with historians still grappling with its complexity and brutality. Despite being portrayed as a rejuvenating force
for socialism, the Cultural Revolution instead crippled the economy and caused immense suffering, with
millions of lives lost and China plunged into turmoil.

Whose idea was it and what was the aim?

The Cultural Revolution was Mao Zedong's brainchild, conceived as a means to reinvigorate the communist
revolution and eliminate his political opponents. Mao sought to strengthen ideology, weed out perceived
enemies, and assert his authority over the party. However, behind the façade of a mass movement lay a power
struggle aimed at consolidating Mao's control and rectifying the damage done to his authority by the Great
Famine of the 1950s.

How exactly did it start?

The Cultural Revolution began with a directive issued by party chiefs in Beijing in mid-May 1966, warning of
counter-revolutionary infiltration within the party. This sparked mass mobilization, with Red Guard divisions
formed across the country, targeting "bourgeois" elements and traditional customs. Schools, universities, and
cultural institutions were shuttered, and violence erupted as party officials and intellectuals became targets of
public humiliation and persecution.

What happened next?

The initial chaos of student-led violence quickly escalated into nationwide turmoil, resembling a state of virtual
civil war. Mao attempted to rein in the violence by sending urban youth to the countryside for "re-education"
and deploying the army to restore order. By late 1968, the situation had somewhat stabilized, but the death toll
continued to rise until the Cultural Revolution's official end in 1976.

How many victims were there?

Historians estimate that between 500,000 and two million people lost their lives during the Cultural
Revolution. The violence and brutality were widespread, with reports of mass killings, torture, and even
cannibalism in some regions. Contrary to popular belief, much of the bloodshed was orchestrated by the
government, rather than the Red Guards.

How did the Cultural Revolution affect China?

Mao's revolutionary fervour aimed to transform China into a communist beacon, but its legacy was one of
devastation. The Cultural Revolution paved the way for China's eventual embrace of capitalism in the 1980s, as
its disastrous consequences led to a profound cultural and economic shift. Today, China's leaders prioritize
stability and political control, influenced by their experiences during this tumultuous period.

How is the Cultural Revolution remembered today?

 After Mao's death, attempts were made to confront the horrors of the Cultural Revolution, but these efforts
waned as Beijing sought to avoid implicating itself in the violence. The 50th anniversary of the Cultural
Revolution was marked by silence from Chinese authorities, reflecting their reluctance to acknowledge the
party's responsibility for the upheaval. However, recent controversies surrounding Mao-themed events have
reignited public interest in this dark chapter of China's history.

Source: The Cultural Revolution: all you need to know about China's political convulsion by Tom Phillips.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/may/11/the-cultural-revolution-50-years-on-all-you-need-to-know-
about-chinas-political-convulsion

| Keywords to use in debate

|---------------------|--------------------|
| 1. Upheaval | 9. Devastation |
| 2. Cultural Revolution | 10. Capitalism |
| 3. Mao Zedong | 11. Mass mobilization |
| 4. Communist Party | 12. Red Guard |
| 5. Chaos | 13. Bloodshed |
| 6. Violence | 14. Great Famine |
| 7. Social upheaval | 15. Power struggle |
| 8. Ideology

Russia’s Great Purge & Holodomor - Stalin

At different times and locations, societies undergo revolutionary changes,
often with profound and enduring consequences. Stalin's Great Purge,
Holodomor, and the Reign of Terror exemplify such transformative periods
in Russian history, marked by violence, oppression, and lasting scars. This
overview explores their origins, impact, and legacy.

What was it and when did it begin?

Stalin's Great Purge, starting in 1936, aimed to eliminate perceived threats to his power, targeting millions of
party officials, intellectuals, and ordinary citizens.

The Holodomor, initiated in 1932, was a man-made famine orchestrated by Stalin in Ukraine, causing millions
of deaths due to forced collectivization and grain requisition.

Whose idea was it and what was the aim?

Stalin conceived the Great Purge to consolidate his authority and remove potential rivals within the Communist
Party. Its aim was to eliminate dissent and ensure absolute control.

Similarly, Stalin orchestrated the Holodomor to crush Ukrainian nationalism and resistance to collectivization,
while bolstering Soviet power through grain exports.

How exactly did it start?

The Great Purge began with show trials and accusations of sabotage and espionage, leading to mass arrests,
executions, and imprisonments in the Gulag system.

The Holodomor was initiated through brutal collectivization policies, confiscation of grain, and imposition of
impossible quotas, resulting in widespread starvation and death, especially in rural Ukraine.
What happened next?

During the Great Purge, the terror intensified, spreading to all levels of society, including the military,
intelligentsia, and ordinary citizens, culminating in millions of deaths and widespread fear.

Following the Holodomor, Stalin's policies exacerbated the famine, as aid was denied, and propaganda
concealed the true extent of the tragedy, leaving a scar on Ukraine's collective memory.

How many victims were there?

Estimates suggest millions were victims of Stalin's Great Purge, with some sources citing up to 1.2 million
executions and millions more imprisoned or exiled.

The Holodomor resulted in the deaths of millions of Ukrainians, with estimates ranging from three to seven
million fatalities due to starvation and related causes.

How did it affect Russia?

Stalin's Great Purge decimated the Soviet leadership, instilling fear and paranoia while solidifying his
authoritarian rule, which persisted for decades, shaping Soviet society and politics.

The Holodomor devastated Ukraine, crippling its agriculture and economy, while traumatizing its people and
deepening distrust of Soviet authorities, leaving a legacy of resentment and nationalism.

How is it remembered today?

Both the Great Purge and the Holodomor remain contentious topics, with debates over their causes,
consequences, and official recognition, reflecting ongoing tensions between historical memory and political
narratives.

| Keywords to use in debate

|---------------|----------------|
| 1. Stalin | 9. Great Purge |
| 2. Holodomor | 10. Violence |
| 3. Oppression | 11. Consolidate|
| 4. Authority | 12. Collectivization|
| 5. Famine | 13. Executions |
| 6. Imprisonments | 14. Trauma |
| 7. Authoritarian | 15. Nationalism |
| 8. Memory |