Mao Zedong: The Emerge Of Figure From The Opportunity

The concept that history provided the opportunity for the emergence of Mao Zedong to become a great figure is accurate to a limited extent. Mao Zedong acted as a revolutionist where he led the Chinese people to a communist revolution in which the fundamentals of China were significantly altered. “One can fairly regard Mao Zedong as the principal architect of the new China” Mao Zedong was the ideological father figure of the Chinese Communist Party, Mao’s individualism allowed him to unify the Chinese peasantry population and motivate them, a key characteristic trait to his leadership. Mao was determined to steer the course of the Chinese Revolution and would not accept anyone in his way. Mao provided his own opportunity to emerge as a great figure in the course of History.

Mao Zedong emerged from the rest of the CCP community due to his dedication to his beliefs in the communist system, his sheer resilience to continue even after a failure such as the 1927 rural revolution, where he was sent into hiding and challenged his position in the CCP as chairman of the Politburo. Mao’s strong belief in the people granted him the idea to found the Chinese Red Army, where the Chinese peasants heavily influenced the army. No matter what happened in Mao’s course of emergence, he never stopped to preach and advocate his life to communist ideology. The Long March in 1934-1935 was a crucial event in Mao’s emergence, as it gave him an opportunity to get involved with his leadership position as chairman of the Politburo. During the march to the North, Mao was elected head of the Chinese Communist Party, where he took control of all communist activities in China. His presence was essential for the CCP to gain popularity, he spoke to the people like no other leader was able to; this is due to his ruthlessness to the success of his rule, that he truly believed in what he was preaching and advertising to the lower class and peasant population. This endured his legacy, creating his own opportunity, that he took what he had and made the best out of it. In 1959 Mao led his Red Army forces to push the National Government to the South, where the Red army overran the National government. The Communist victory over the National government forced the previous ruling to retreat to Taiwan. On October 1st 1959, the Peoples Republic of China was formed, along with Mao Zedong becoming the leader of China. The opportunity was not given to Mao, he created the opportunity in the time frame in history, his ability of endurance and his strategic skills to unify people got him to his leadership position.

“Communism is not love. Communism is a hammer which we use to crush the enemy” Mao believed in his communistic leadership, that nothing shall stand in his way when it came to the ruling of china. As he strived for the pure communistic society, he initiated the campaigns against all counter revolutionists that posed a threat to his rule. Mao believed in communist strategy, influencing his decision for the extermination of opposed threats to the state. The counter revolutionists were hunted out by the Chinese people, any landlords and individuals that had different views and ideas regarding communism as well as anyone that seemed to oppose a threat to the communist rule were reported and killed. The changing of laws, regulations, policies and customs regarding land ownership caused the death of 85%-90% of the 15 million members of the landlord class in China. This crucial decision by Mao allowed the peasant class to trust him, it targeted the well-being of the peasants and gave access to better living conditions. Mao created this opportunity to gain the peoples trust, not an opportunity history provided, but a strategic move that made the people believe that it was the state’s best interest to improve living conditions; a truly brilliant move.

Mao’s strong belief in communism gave him the audacity to institute the Great Leap forward. An alternative economically beneficial model for growth designed by the Soviets, that advocated the focus of heavy industry for maximum gain. The primary target was to profit economically from iron and steel, where peasants were relocated from farms to massive infrastructure projects and factories. Private food productions were banned, with all livestock and farm implements brought under the state’s collective ownership. Mao and other party leaders arranged the implementation of a variation of dubious and unscientific techniques of farming throughout China, an attempt to gain agricultural economic growth. Mao heavily accredited to communist methods of theory to enhance the state, he was able to manipulate the timeworn Chinese farming techniques to new unproven approaches. In 1959 the Chinese grain production decreased 15%, furthered by another 10% the following year in 1960, with absolutely no recovery whatsoever in 1961. Mao’s party hierarchy distorted the statistics of grain production, with party cadres requisitioning large scale amount of fake harvest to the state. This caused an incredibly large and unproportioned famine in China, leading to the death of 52 million lives across the communist state, the biggest catastrophic death toll in the history of China. Mao had the ability to completely modify the agriculture system, although an absolute failure with outrageous casualties. Mao conceived the opportunity as an act of his belief in Communism and the welfare of the state, that history did not provide.

To re-impose Mao and Maoism as an ideology throughout the state, Mao devised an opportunity to commence a Cultural Revolution, to compensate for the deterioration of the Great Leap forward. “The people, and the people alone, are the motive force in the making of world history” The socio-political movement began in 1966, ending in 1976, it was an opportunity marking the return of Mao’s power and confidence. Paralyzing the state politically and negatively in both areas of economy and the welfare of society, affecting the country severely. Allegedly bourgeois fundamentals had infiltrated the state and society in a whole, with the goal to restore capitalism throughout China. The removal of revisionists was crucial for Mao to stay in control, this was done through violent endeavors between different classes, due to this, Red Guard bands assembled throughout the state to exterminate them. Clashes between conservative and radical factions broke out, causing the abolishing of senior officials within the hierarchy. Millions were persecuted and society fell, with the population suffering in different ways and forms. A Cultural Revolution was declared in 1981, which was responsible for the most relentless setback and burdensome losses of the Chinese Communist party, since the fundamentals of the PRC were established. The opportunity that Mao shaped to start a revolution was on him, and him alone, for his communist instincts kicked in.

Throughout Mao’s career, different components played a major role in the emergence of Mao as a great figure. His in-depth belief in Communism and his sheer resilience to stand strong with his ideas and visions allowed him to create an opportunity for him to emerge in history. “Once all struggles are grasped, miracles are possible” This was the case with Mao constructing an opportunity for him to emerge as a great figure in the 20th century.