Mao Zedong

Iconencollectie #20

by Enrico Fardella

Mao Zedong a fost atras de politica deoarece era din fire rebel si nerabdator sa iasa din categoria sociala in care il plasasera conditiile economice ale familiei. A ales comunismul si a avut doua mari intuitii politice. In primul rand, a inteles ca Revolutia Chineza ar fi fost posibila numai daca partidul ar fi reusit sa mobilizeze masele de tarani. Si, in al doilea rand, a inteles ca razboiul impotriva Partidului Nationalist cerea fantezie, abilitate, flexibilitate, istetime vicleana. Capodoperele lui au fost Marsul cel Lung (12000 de kilometri, 200 de confruntari armate, 80000 de victime umane), micul stat comunist din Shaanxi si marea mobilizare populara impotriva Gomindan intre 1947 si 1949. Dupa proclamarea Republicii Populare Chineze pe 1 octombrie 1949, colectivizarea pamanturilor detinute de tarani a pus economia in genunchi si a produs un fel de catastrofa umanitara. Politica asa-numita a celor „o suta de flori“, lansata de Mao pentru a obtine consensul intelectualilor, a pus in pericol puterea partidului si a fost intrerupta dur. Marele Salt Inainte si crearea Comunelor (organe centralizate de care depindeau activitatile agricole si industriale a numeroase sate) au avut un esec rasunator. La sfarsitul anilor 1950, pentru a-si recupera puterea pierduta, a avut ultima intuitie si a declansat Revolutia Culturala, act suprem de cinism politic (intre cincisprezece si douazeci de milioane de morti), dar si de fantezie romantica. Cele 80 de fotografii alb-negru care insotesc textul documenteaza in imagini sugestive epoca si viata celui care a fost supranumit Marele Carmaci.

Genres: History

191 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2005

Reviews

[Catalin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mao Zedong began not as a tyrant, but as an intellectual idealist seeking a path to restore China's dignity in the world. However, his philosophy was rooted in the belief that progress requires violent upheaval and constant struggle. His attempt to force rapid industrialization during the Great Leap Forward relied on outdated methods that devastated the Chinese economy. Following this failure, his authority weakened and to regain and hold absolute control, he moved away from policy and relied almost entirely on a massive Cult of Personality to mobilize the masses against his alleged enemies. My main takeaway is that China was never united truly, but it was held together by fear, hatred, killings, xenophobia (fear of foreigners etc. When the Communist Party of China first took office, there was widespread relief, the almost civil war between Chinese Nationalists and others halted, but afterwards the power control was maintained through the creation of common enemies against which the people were urged to mobilize against. Worth a read!