From the perspective of study which states that the Cultural Revolution was solely an ideological movement, it can be argued that in order to accomplish such ambitious targets of creating a whole new society, concessions and sacrifices had to be made. That from the beginning of the movement, Mao had as a goal to form a more socialist China which meant, therefore, that a difference in classes was unacceptable and that even the party would have to suffer the reform if the population was to be put through it. Mao thought that the Party had become corrupted and too bureaucratic since the leaders had grown used to their privileged positions making them ineffective as a revolutionary tool. Mao was disgusted with what the party had become
On the other hand, the argument that the Cultural Revolution was more than just and ideological movement, defends that it was actually a tool used by Mao in order to maintain his position in power. Through accusing party members who had grown too influential and purging teachers and university administrators, Mao was eliminating all of those who could be thought of as knowing too much or had, in their reach, the tools to overthrow Mao. Teachers, for example were the basis for the complete control Mao felt comfortable with since they were the ones educating the Chinese youth to adore the Chairman and could just as easily be the ones teaching them otherwise. Books as well as historical artefacts were destroyed, a type of attack which, with hindsight, can be considered recurring when it comes to totalitarian governments and was also present in the Russian Revolution. Through eliminating any knowledge other than that being taught, a leader expands his control to peoples’ minds, but in Mao’s case, he was stimulating people to riot, maybe in the attempt of creating the illusion that the revolution was their own rather than a complex architecture of the chairman.
Meanwhile, in politics, a young man with growing popularity meant direct competition. Reaching the advanced age of 73, Mao felt that his position as the party leader was being challenged by people such as Wu Han, Lin Biao and Peng Zhen. These younger men had grown in the party increasing their power and influence. Even though they were from Mao’s party, he had ceased seeing them as allies when they became a menace to his position. Through assuming the leadership of the Cultural Revolution, Mao had available tools to manipulate the targets of the Red Army in order to fit his enemies.
Even though they might be thought of as arguments which try and find too much meaning behind Maos acts, an indication that the Cultural Revolution was an attempt to regain power rather than an ideological movement is when Zhang established a people’s commune. In theory, it would be exactly what Mao had been fighting for since all would be equal rather than have a party but at the last moment, he declared there “must be a party somehow” maybe when he realized he would have to come down to the level of the people and let go of his control.
by
olgasaadi (student)
