The Cultural Revolution was launched in 1966. Mao, having just vanquished Liu Shaoqi and Deng Xiaoping in the power struggle ordered the younger generation of China to rebel. Groups of Chinese youths formed around the country and started causing havoc. These groups called themselves the Red Guards. The Red Guards went around China inspiring terror and veneration of Mao. Mao was no longer a dead ancestor.
Mao’s resentment for his loss of power was to be one the main reason for the launch of the Cultural Revolution. He hated being cast aside by Liu Shaoqi and wanted to steer China back towards the socialist was of life. Subsequently he instigated a great purge throughout the nation. Intellectuals such as writers and teachers suffered atrocities at the hands of the Red Guards. In launching the Cultural Revolution Mao wanted to make sure that there was no remaining intelligentsia that would attempt to criticize or remove him from power. Intellectuals were not alone in their sufferings, business men and landlords were made to suffer ‘struggles’ at the hands of infuriated peasants.
Another reason for the Cultural Revolution was the situation in Russia at the time. Following the Marshall Malinovsky incident during which Malinovsky asked a Chinese delegation when they would be removing ‘that fool of Mao’. Mao feared that the Chinese Communist Party was going to remove him as the Communist party in Russia had removed Khrushchev. He wanted to re-establish control of the party in order not to be removed from power entirely. To ensure his position government he forced Liu Shaoqi and Deng Xiaoping to give self-criticizing speeches at a Central Committee meeting. Thus Mao was able to re-gain control of the Party and assured himself a position of power. Mao also wanted revenge of Liu Shaoqi for betraying him at the 7000 cadres meeting.
Another major reason for which Mao launched the Cultural Revolution was the failure of the Great Leap Forward, which he never admitted to. Due to criticism from party members such as Peng Duhuai and Liu Shaoqi, Chinese people had started realising the problems caused by this disastrous policy. Mao could not accept his nation turning against him. Lin Biao, leader of the PlA and a close ally of Mao ordered the publication of a book full of quotations from Mao. This was to be known as the little red book and was to be printed in millions of copies. By launching the Cultural Revolution Mao inspired a short era of brainless worship towards him. This resulted in him being perceived as a demi-god by the people of China. All failures of the Great Leap Forward had been forgotten.
Whatever the reasons of the Cultural Revolution were, the consequences were negative. China’s economy, which had previously been stabilized by Shaoqi, was once again in shambles. Inflation was at 1000 per cent and the rail way system was in turmoil due to Red Guards travelling free of charge all around China. Industrial production fell drastically by 14 percent in 1967. The lack of intellectuals caused Mao’s secrete nuclear plans to suffer.
China’s relationship with Russia was at an all time low under Brezhnev. The experts sent to aid China were called back which caused a worrying shortage of scientific knowledge. In addition to this, the arts had greatly suffered. Many artists had been repressed during the Cultural Revolution. Play writer Wu Ran had been heavily criticized for writing a play that was deemed as anti-socialist. Education also greatly suffered Mao previous efforts at making China an educated nation had been destroyed as schools and universities were closed for revolutionary struggle. In addition to all of this, approximately half a million people are believed to have perished in this period of extreme violence.
The reasons behind the Cultural Revolution are much debated. Little is known about why Mao launched it, I have come to the conclusion the Mao wanted to take control of China and was tired of not being involved in politics. However some may argue that the Cultural Revolution was a purely existential act, merely a spontaneous period of brutality and rage with no motives behind it.
