POLI 324: Asian Politics Dr. Kevin Lasher

CHINA AFTER MAO, 1976-89

Stalin and Mao: Aftermath Party leaders in USSR in 1950s and PRC in 1970s basically decide “never again” What is the legacy of these “monsters” who achieved so much?

Stalin and Mao: Aftermath Cannot totally reject these leaders or communist parties will lose all legitimacy What is the “proper view”?

Stalin and Mao: Aftermath Both countries undertake major reforms

New Leader Hua Guofeng Mao says “With you in charge, I am at ease.” Relatively unknown provincial leader “Compromise candidate” among factions

New Leader Hua Guofeng Hua arranges ouster and arrest of “Gang of Four” Hua embraces “Two whatevers” – uphold whatever policies Mao made and follow whatever instructions Mao gave

New Leader Hua Guofeng Chairman of CCP, Chairman of Central Military Commission, Premier in 1976 Eventually outmaneuvered by Deng Xiaoping

Timeline 1976 Hua Guofeng assumes three top positions 1977 Deng Xiaoping as CCP Vice-Chair, Vice-Chair of Central Military Commission, member of Politburo Standing Comm. 1978 Agricultural reforms begin 1979 Hu Yaobang as CCP General Secretary (Hua Guofeng remains party chairman) Deng Xiaoping visits USA after full normalization

Timeline 1980 Zhao Ziyang as PRC Premier (Hua as Vice-Premier) 1981 Hu Yaobang and Zhao Ziyang as PSC members; Deng as “paramount leader,” PSC member, Chair of Central Military Commission Hua Guofeng removed as Chairman in 1981, remains on Central Committee until 2002 but fades into obscurity

Power Relations Politburo Standing Committee 1977 Politburo Standing Committee 1982 Hua Guofeng (Maoist) Deng Xiaoping (reformer) Wang Dongxing (security-Maoist) Hu Yaobang (reformer) Ye Jianying (PLA - mod. Maoist) Zhao Ziyang (reformer) Le Xiannian (mod. Maoist) Chen Yun (mod. reformer) Deng Xiaoping (pragmatist) Le Xiannian (anti-reformer) Chen Yun (pragmatist) Ye Jianying (anti-reformer)

Deng Xiaoping in Power Deng and his lieutenants – Premier Zhao Ziyang and General Secretary Hu Yaobang

Deng’s Policies, 1978-89 De-Maoification and de-emphasis of ideology Political reforms Economic reforms New Social Contract Considerable resistance to reforms China on international stage

De-Maoification Reducing, not eliminating, the role of ideology Reconsidering the legacy and actions of Mao Zedong Must strike proper balance of praise and criticism Must move beyond Mao period Delicate balancing act

De-Maoification In 1981, the CCP announces that Mao was “70% right and 30% wrong” Mao was great leader and revolutionary who made mistakes, especially in later years Errors were anti-rightist movement, Great Leap Forward, attack on Peng Dehuai, Socialist Education Movement, Cultural Revolution Mao cannot be totally repudiated without destroying the role of CCP

De-Maoification No more ideological mass actions No more permanent revolution Mao remains an important symbol for reformist China but a symbol that can mean different things to different people

De-Maoification Not Quite

De-Maoification

De-Maoification Four modernizations: development of industry, agriculture, defense, and science and technology Four Cardinal Principles: upholding spirit of communism, people’s democratic dictatorship, leadership of CCP, and Marxism-Leninism-Maoism

De-Maoification “It does not matter if the cat is black or white. If it catches mice, it is a good cat.” Worry less about ideology and focus on “what works”

De-Maoification Pragmatic/capitalist economic policies still cloaked in language of socialism Beginning of building capitalism in Communist China without being too explicit about the language

Political Reforms Pursue significant economic reforms with modest political reforms Political reforms aimed at rebuilding and professionalizing CCP Bring order and stability to party affairs after chaos of GPCR Create “technocratic” CCP NOT democratization

Political Reforms Mandatory retirement for high-level party members (65 years for top party and government leaders, 60 years for deputies) Limits of two terms (ten years) for all top party and government positions Increased education for party members Losers in party struggles continue to live, retain perks and privileges

Political Reforms Some modest relaxation of censorship Calls for democratic reforms are generally resisted Hu Yaobang ousted as General Secretary in 1987 because he was viewed as too lenient on student democratic protestors (before Tiananmen uprising in 1989)

Political Reforms 1982 Central Committee 1997 Age 59.1 55.9 Education 55% college 92% college 1982 Provincial Leaders 1996 Age 62 55 Education 20% college 79% college

Economic Reforms Agriculture De-collectivization Commodity production Township and village enterprises

Economic Reforms Cities Small-scale private businesses Special Economic Zones Reform of State-Owned Enterprises

Economic Reforms Introducing quasi-capitalism in many sectors Considerable success Will return to this issue

New Social Contract Citizens will have more freedom in economic and personal realm in exchange for acceptance of the one-party communist state Radicalism of Mao era is over Repression is significantly reduced

New Social Contract Can CCP provide economic and personal freedom without facing demands for political freedom?

Reform faces opposition Deng Xiaoping faces opposition to his reforms within top of party Not all-powerful like Mao Two steps forward, one step back Mini campaigns against corruption, spiritual pollution, Westernization, liberalization Deng moves slowly on political reforms Must cloak capitalist reforms in language of socialism

Reform faces opposition Anti-reformers force out General Secretary Hu Yaobang in 1987 Deng abandons Zhao Ziyang after Tiananmen Square uprising (1989) Economic reforms are “frozen” from 1989-92

Internationalizing China Final normalization of relations with USA in 1979 China downplays importance of world socialism

Internationalizing China China welcomes foreign investment China seeks to become part of international economic system

Deng’s Success, 1978-89 Deng Xiaoping becomes “paramount leader” China launches major quasi-capitalist reforms CCP stabilizes and modernizes after turmoil of late Mao period Beginning of “the new China”

The End