Mao Zedong's Exploration of China's Rural Modernization
Based on an extensive collection of historical materials, Mao Zedong’s Exploration of China’s Rural Modernization systematically researches the path toward rural socialist modernization explored by Mao Zedong after the founding of the People's Republic of China, adopting a dual perspective of both socialism and modernization. From the background of this exploration and the establishment of the political prerequisites for rural socialist modernization, to the institutional guarantees for its realization, its comprehensive advancement, efforts to consolidate the rural socialist modernization system, and the twists and turns encountered along the way, this book provides an in-depth analysis of the positive results and experiences of Mao Zedong’s inquiry. With its rich historical data, profound analysis, and fair evaluations, the work deepens the study of Mao Zedong in his later years [1] and assists in establishing a correct understanding of rural development conditions prior to Reform and Opening-up. The experiences and lessons summarized herein regarding Mao Zedong’s exploration of the path to rural socialist modernization hold great historical significance and practical guiding value for the construction of a New Socialist Countryside [2] today.
About the Author Gong Yun: Born in September 1971, Doctor of History. He serves as the Executive Deputy Director of the Research Center for Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS), Deputy Director of the Research Center for the Theoretical System of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics at CASS, and Deputy Director of the World Socialism Research Center at CASS. He is a Senior Research Fellow and concurrently serves as a Council Member of the Association of National History of the People's Republic of China, Deputy Secretary-General of the Chinese Atheism Society, Deputy Secretary-General of the China Society for Taiping Heavenly Kingdom Studies, and Chief Expert for major projects of the National Marxism Theoretical Research and Construction Project [3]. He has long been engaged in the research of the theory and practice of socialism with Chinese characteristics, has published six independent monographs, and has contributed nearly 100 academic papers to publications such as Guangming Daily, China Social Sciences Review, Qiushi, Party Building Research, Marxism Studies, Social Sciences in Chinese Higher Education, Red Flag Manuscript, and Guide to Ideological and Theoretical Education. His co-authored work An Intellectual History of 30 Years of Reform and Opening-up won the third prize for Outstanding Scientific Research Achievement at CASS, and his co-authored The China Path was selected for the 2013 National "Three Hundred Original Book Project." He has received the second prize for Research Results on Major Projects from the Organization Department of the CPC Central Committee, and has been awarded the CASS Special Prize once, First Prize three times, Second Prize three times, and Third Prize five times for information and policy consultation. He has frequently undertaken projects commissioned by central departments including the General Office of the CPC Central Committee, the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee, the Organization Department of the CPC Central Committee, the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, the State Council Information Office, and the Ministry of Finance. His internal reports have received instructions [4] from General Secretary Xi Jinping three times, from members of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee four times, and from a State Councilor once.
Table of Contents Introduction: Letting the Peasants Stand Up and Letting Them Become Prosperous Chapter 1: Background of the Exploration of China’s Rural Socialist Modernization Section 1: International Background Section 2: Domestic Background Chapter 2: The Necessary Condition for China’s Rural Socialist Modernization: Land Reform Section 1: Land Reform after the Founding of the PRC Section 2: The Major Significance of Land Reform Chapter 3: Institutional Guarantees for China’s Rural Socialist Modernization (Part I): Agricultural Cooperativization Section 1: The Theoretical Basis of Agricultural Cooperativization: Treatises by Classical Writers [5] Section 2: The Process of Agricultural Cooperativization Section 3: Evaluation of Agricultural Cooperativization Chapter 4: Institutional Guarantees for China’s Rural Socialist Modernization (Part II): The People’s Commune Movement Section 1: Reasons why Mao Zedong Launched the People’s Commune Movement Section 2: The Process of Mao Zedong Launching the People’s Commune Movement Section 3: Mao Zedong’s Exploration of the Operating Mechanism of the People’s Communes Section 4: Evaluation of the People’s Communes Chapter 5: The Comprehensive Advancement of China’s Rural Socialist Modernization (Part I) Section 1: Formulating the National Program for Agricultural Development (1956–1967) Section 2: Promoting the Comprehensive Development of Agriculture: Simultaneous Development of Farming, Forestry, Animal Husbandry, Side-lines, and Fisheries Section 3: Proposing the "Eight-Point Charter" [6] for Agriculture Section 4: Proposing that "The Fundamental Way Out for Agriculture Lies in Mechanization" Section 5: Proposing "Great, Bright, and Splendid Hope": Rural Industrialization Chapter 6: The Comprehensive Advancement of China’s Rural Socialist Modernization (Part II) Section 1: Launching the Agricultural "Great Leap Forward" Section 2: Comprehensive Development of Rural Social Undertakings Section 3: Rural Political Modernization Chapter 7: Efforts to Consolidate the System of China’s Rural Socialist Modernization: The Socialist Education Movement [7] Section 1: Origins of the Socialist Education Movement Section 2: The Process of the Socialist Education Movement Chapter 8: Twists and Turns in the Exploration of China’s Rural Socialist Modernization Section 1: "In Agriculture, Learn from Dazhai" [8] Section 2: The "May 7th Road" [9] Section 3: "Grasp Revolution, Promote Production": The Rural Cultural Revolution Conclusion: Historical Reflections Section 1: Achievements of the Exploration Section 2: Lessons of the Exploration Section 3: Inspirations from the Exploration