ClassX Video Lessons Youtube Channel Knowledgia Why didn’t Communism Collapse in China as in other countries?
During the 20th century, communism spread across Eastern Europe, Asia, and other regions. However, by the end of the century, only five communist countries remained, with China being one of them. Despite the decline of communism in many parts of the world, China has not only remained a communist country but has also become a significant global power. So, why has communism persisted in China when it failed elsewhere?
The seeds of communism in China were sown with the influence of Marxism and the Russian Revolution. Many Chinese intellectuals were drawn to socialist and communist ideas. One such figure was Li Xiao, a librarian at Peking University, who started a Marxist study group in 1918. Mao Zedong, who would later lead the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and the People’s Republic of China, joined this group as a young clerk.
Li Xiao believed that true liberation in China required the liberation of the peasants, who made up a large part of the population. He argued that foreign exploitation made all Chinese people part of an oppressed class. This idea gained traction, and by 1920, a Bolshevik official named Grigory Voytinsky helped spread communist ideas, leading to the formation of the CCP in 1921.
The CCP faced significant challenges from the Kuomintang (KMT), a powerful anti-communist movement. Initially, Soviet leaders like Lenin and Stalin encouraged cooperation between the CCP and KMT. However, this alliance fell apart in the late 1920s as the KMT grew stronger and turned against the communists.
Despite several failed uprisings, the CCP managed to gather support from peasants and formed the Chinese Soviet Republic in 1931. However, this was quickly suppressed by the nationalist government, forcing Mao and others to retreat during the Long March to northern China.
By the mid-1930s, Mao had become the leader of the CCP. He temporarily united with the KMT to fight Japanese invaders. After World War II, the civil war between the CCP and KMT resumed, with the CCP emerging victorious in 1949, establishing the People’s Republic of China.
Initially, China sought strong ties with the Soviet Union, but ideological differences soon led to a split. The Chinese government then focused on industrial and economic development, marked by initiatives like the Great Leap Forward and the Cultural Revolution.
Following Mao’s death in 1976, Deng Xiaoping became the paramount leader and initiated significant economic reforms. The Four Modernizations program shifted China towards market socialism, opening the country to foreign trade and investment. Deng’s policies are credited with laying the foundation for China’s modern economy.
These reforms led to a mixed economy, combining elements of socialism and capitalism. This approach significantly reduced poverty, with the extreme poverty rate dropping from 88.3% in 1981 to just 0.7% in 2015. While the CCP remains in power, China’s economy has adopted some capitalist traits over the years.
China’s success is not solely due to communism. The country has embraced a blend of socialist and capitalist principles, allowing for economic growth and political stability. This unique combination has enabled China to thrive while other communist nations collapsed.
China’s government structure is complex, with the Communist Party maintaining significant control. However, the integration of capitalist elements has helped sustain the country’s economy and political system. As long as China maintains this balance, it is likely to continue its current trajectory.
Research the lives and contributions of key figures mentioned in the article, such as Mao Zedong, Li Xiao, and Deng Xiaoping. Prepare a short presentation to share with the class, highlighting how each individual’s actions and beliefs influenced the persistence of communism in China.
Participate in a class debate on the impact of Deng Xiaoping’s economic reforms. Divide into two groups: one supporting the view that these reforms were essential for China’s growth, and the other arguing that they compromised communist principles. Use evidence from the article and additional research to support your arguments.
Create a detailed timeline of the major events discussed in the article, from the introduction of communism in China to the present day. Include key dates, events, and turning points that contributed to the persistence of communism in China. Share your timeline with the class and discuss its significance.
Write an essay comparing the persistence of communism in China with its collapse in other countries. Analyze the factors that contributed to China’s unique path, using information from the article and additional sources. Discuss how China’s blend of ideologies has influenced its current status as a global power.
Engage in a role-playing activity that reenacts the Long March. Assume the roles of different CCP members and discuss the challenges faced during this period. Reflect on how this event shaped the future of communism in China and the leadership of Mao Zedong.
**Sanitized Transcript:**
[Music] During the 20th century, communism was on the rise across Eastern Europe, Asia, and other nations. Yet, less than a century later, only five communist countries remain in the world today. One of those countries is China, which holds significant global importance. While communist ideology lost momentum and prosperity in many parts of the world, the People’s Republic of China has managed to remain not only a communist country but also an influential nation on a global scale. Given the contrasting outcomes of communism in other nations, how has this controversial ideology persisted in China?
[Music] The role of Marxism and the Russian Revolution in introducing communism to China was notably important. Many Chinese people were attracted to socialist and communist theories, including Li Xiao, the head librarian at Peking University in Beijing. In June 1918, he created a Marxist study group at the university, and the following year, Mao Zedong joined the group. Mao would later become the leader of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and chairman of the People’s Republic of China, although at that time, he was just a clerk at the university library.
During this period, Xiao developed a strategy to address the challenges posed by China’s largely peasant-based population, asserting that true liberation could not occur without the liberation of the peasants. He argued that foreign mistreatment of the Chinese people made even non-working members part of an exploited proletariat. One of his Marxist protégés, tasked with gathering support from the peasants, gained recognition as an organizer of newly recruited peasant Marxists.
By the end of spring 1920, a Bolshevik Comintern official, Grigory Voytinsky, arrived in China and began to disseminate reliable information on communism and the Russian Revolution. His influence contributed to the formation of the Chinese Communist Party in July of the following year. The CCP faced challenges as the Kuomintang (KMT) movement expanded and gained power, despite the KMT being anti-communist. Both Lenin and Stalin urged the CCP to cooperate with the KMT, viewing the latter as a potential ally. However, the unity between the CCP and KMT began to deteriorate as the KMT achieved military and political success in the late 1920s, ultimately turning against the CCP and their Soviet support.
In April 1927, the KMT declared a new national government and repudiated the communist party. Stalin insisted that the CCP continue to work with the KMT, but his advice was largely ignored. The CCP attempted several uprisings, achieving limited success but ultimately failing to seize power. Some members of the communist party managed to rally significant peasant support and formed the Chinese Soviet Republic in southern China in 1931, numbering around 10 million members. However, the nationalist government quickly suppressed this movement, forcing Mao Zedong and others to flee during the Long March, eventually reaching northern China.
By this time, Mao had become the leader of the CCP and took the opportunity to unite with the KMT in 1936 against Japanese invaders. When the civil war between the CCP and KMT resumed in 1946, the CCP had gained considerable political and military experience. Meanwhile, the nationalist government lost support and was ultimately defeated by the communists in 1949, leading to the establishment of the People’s Republic of China.
After the establishment of the new republic, the CCP sought to strengthen ties with the Communist Party of the Soviet Union (CPSU). However, this alliance was short-lived as China recognized significant differences in foreign policy and ideology, leading to its termination before 1960. Subsequently, the Chinese government focused on industrial and economic development, which included the Great Leap Forward in 1958 and the Cultural Revolution in 1966. Tensions between radical and moderate factions of the CCP fluctuated, culminating in the arrest of the radical “Gang of Four” following Mao’s death in 1976.
Deng Xiaoping then became the paramount leader of the CCP, and Hua Guofeng took the title of party chairman as the Cultural Revolution officially ended. The program of the Four Modernizations became the new focus, shifting the government towards market socialism. Deng is credited with opening China to the outside world and is often regarded as the architect of modern China due to his contributions to the nation’s contemporary economy.
This marked a transition for China, accepting more liberal trading practices and foreign investment. However, Deng stepped down in 1989 after the Chinese government faced international criticism in response to the Tiananmen Square incident. Since its introduction, communism in China has evolved to achieve a remarkably successful, albeit not purely communist, status. While the CCP remains in power, the economy has adopted some capitalist characteristics over the years.
The focus shifted from a state-controlled economy, as seen in other historical contexts, to a mixed economy. China has also significantly reduced its extreme poverty rate from 88.3% in 1981 to just 0.7% in 2015. This success is impressive, but it would be misleading to attribute it solely to communism. Basic communist principles do not allow for private business profits or economic classes. Some experts argue that China is in the process of becoming more capitalist, which is plausible given that many countries have a mixture of capitalism and socialism.
The potential for this combined structure in China has been present since the late 20th century, becoming particularly significant around 1978 when Chinese delegates began to study various foreign economic systems. By 1982, the ban on private farming was lifted, leading to the growth of private businesses, although each was limited to a maximum of seven employees. The government maintained that they were not becoming a capitalist country, but this was clearly a step away from strict communism.
Despite these developments, the control of the party remains crucial and plays a direct role in China’s status as a communist country. So, why has communism not fully collapsed in China? The answer is complex. Communism in China has not collapsed because it does not fully exist in its traditional form. Although the People’s Republic of China is considered one of the last remaining communist countries, its blend of socialist and capitalist characteristics has allowed for a successful economy and a functional political system.
China managed to sustain itself in the 1990s while other communist nations faced collapse, primarily due to its unique political structure. The type of government in China is often debated due to its complexity, but the authority of the Communist Party is undeniable. If the regime were to collapse, it would likely stem from a movement back toward a purely communist structure. However, as long as China maintains its economic mixture of socialism and capitalism, it is more plausible that its single-party capitalist structure will endure.
Communism – A political and economic ideology advocating for a classless society in which all property and resources are communally owned, eliminating private ownership. – The rise of communism in the 20th century significantly altered the political landscape of Eastern Europe.
China – A country in East Asia with a rich history, known for its ancient civilization and significant influence on global politics and economics. – China’s transformation into a global economic powerhouse has been one of the most significant developments in recent history.
Mao – Referring to Mao Zedong, the founding father of the People’s Republic of China and a key figure in the Chinese Communist Party. – Mao’s policies, such as the Great Leap Forward, had profound impacts on China’s social and economic structures.
Socialism – An economic and political system where the means of production are owned and regulated by the community as a whole, often through the state. – The implementation of socialism in various countries has led to diverse outcomes, depending on the political and economic context.
Capitalism – An economic system characterized by private ownership of the means of production and operation for profit, with minimal state intervention. – The Industrial Revolution marked a significant expansion of capitalism, leading to increased production and economic growth.
Reforms – Changes made to improve a system, often in the context of political, economic, or social institutions. – The economic reforms in the late 20th century helped transition several countries from planned economies to market-oriented systems.
Economy – The system of production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services within a society or geographic area. – The global economy has become increasingly interconnected due to advancements in technology and trade agreements.
Party – A political organization that seeks to influence government policy and actions, often by nominating candidates for public office. – The Communist Party played a crucial role in shaping the policies and direction of the Soviet Union during the 20th century.
Revolution – A fundamental and relatively sudden change in political power and political organization, often accompanied by social upheaval. – The French Revolution was a pivotal event that reshaped the political landscape of Europe and inspired movements worldwide.
Peasants – Members of the traditional class of farmers, typically of low social status, who work the land and produce food. – During the Russian Revolution, peasants played a significant role in the struggle for land reform and social change.
