Question
Examine the achievements and failures of Mao Zedong’s (Mao Tse-tung’s) leadership between 1949 and 1976.
▶️Answer/Explanation
Ans:
Candidates must demonstrate a clear understanding of the requirements of the question and effectively deploy knowledge of the key issues raised by the question; in this they must consider the positive and negative aspects of Mao Zedong’s (Mao Tse-tung’s) leadership of the People’s Republic of China between 1949 and 1976.
Indicative content
- Some distinction may be made between Mao, the popular revolutionary leader who gained power in 1949, and Mao, the national leader who made mistakes. The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) reassessment of Mao in July 1981 gave the split of 70 per cent good and 30 per cent bad and this has become the accepted official Chinese view of Mao.
- Mao’s policies and campaigns throughout the 27 year period are likely to be a focus of discussion and may include: the New China reconstruction period 1949–1952; the First Five Year Plan 1952–1957; the 100 Flowers and Anti-Rightist Campaigns 1956–1957; the Great Leap Forward 1958–1961; the moderate period 1961–1965; the Socialist Education Movement 1962; and the Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution 1966–1976.
- There may be an analysis of Maoism including: the concepts of land redistribution; peasant socialism; working alongside the peasants; class struggle; gender equality; right thinking; rectification; continuous revolution; the mass line; the Yan’an (Yenan) Spirit and Chinese nationalism. This may be followed by an evaluation of the extent to which Mao achieved or failed to implement these goals during the period.
- Furthermore, there could be arguments suggesting that Mao achieved some measure of economic success until the disastrous Great Leap Forward (1958–1961), the famine (1959–1961) and, in the mid-1960s, the upheaval of the Cultural Revolution.
- In terms of social reforms, Mao’s policies of the early 1950s, such as gender equality, education, health and welfare, enjoyed some success, but the later campaigns had a negative impact on all of these areas.
- Politically over the time period, Mao consolidated his leadership, developed the cult of Mao and became a ruthless dictator.
- Candidates may also discuss Mao’s leadership in relation to the roles of other leaders, including Deng Xiaoping (Teng Hsiao-p’ing), Zhou Enlai (Chou En-lai) or the Gang of Four.
- Candidates may discuss his leadership in terms of foreign policy, for example the deterioration of Sino-Soviet relations and Mao’s rapprochement with the US in 1972.
The above material is an indication of what candidates may elect to write about in their responses. However, it is not exhaustive and no set answer is required.
Examiners and moderators are reminded of the need to apply the markbands that provide the “best fit” to the responses given by candidates and to award credit wherever it is possible to do so.
Question
“Jiang Zemin (Chiang T’se-min) promoted economic development at the expense of political development.” Discuss with reference to Jiang Zemin’s (Chiang T’se-min’s) leadership of China between 1989 and 2000.
▶️Answer/Explanation
Ans:
Candidates must offer a considered and balanced review of Jiang Zemin’s (Chiang T’se-min’s) leadership of China with an emphasis on the extent to which there was economic reform when compared to political reform. A reasoned conclusion is expected.
Indicative content
- Jiang Zemin (Chiang T’se-min) was General Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) from 1989 to 2002, Chairman of the Central Military Commission from 1989 to 2004 and President of the People’s Republic of China from 1993 to 2003.
- Jiang Zemin replaced Zhao Ziyang (Chao T’zu-yang) as General Secretary because the latter was considered too liberal in his handling of the Tiananmen Square demonstrators. He believed that China under Deng Xiaoping (Teng Hsiao-p’ing) during the 1980s had achieved economic reform, but had been too lenient politically. He advocated more political control, increased funding for propaganda and suppressed any vestiges of the democracy movement.
- At the 14th Party Congress in 1992, Jiang proposed further economic reform to create a “socialist market economy” (public ownership, individual household industry, private enterprise and foreign investment would all compete equally) in which government would, to an extent, decentralise and allow more capitalist practices although Special Economic Zones (SEZs) were still supported.
- At the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum in the US in 1993, Jiang refused to engage with President Clinton with regard to China’s human rights record, maintaining the importance of non-interference in the internal affairs of other countries. Under Jiang’s leadership the campaign against Falun Gong became particularly repressive.
- Jiang believed that China should aim to become a socialist democracy. Abolishing the Central Advisory Committee, he advocated the theory of the “Three Represents”: Marxist-Leninism; Mao Zedong Thought; Deng Xiaoping Theory as the guiding principle.
- During Jiang’s leadership, Hong Kong returned to China; the 2008 Olympics were secured; public works in local communities were supported; the construction of the Three Gorges Dam began; and in foreign affairs he maintained cordial relations with the United States and Russia. However, he did not fully address the rising issues of unemployment; corruption and cronyism; the increase in organised crime; the widening wealth gap; the damage to the environment. He also used the media to develop a cult of personality.
The above material is an indication of what candidates may elect to write about in their responses. However, it is not exhaustive and no set answer is required.
Examiners and moderators are reminded of the need to apply the markbands that provide the “best fit” to the responses given by candidates and to award credit wherever it is possible to do so.
Question
“By 1961 the Chinese people’s hopes for a more prosperous and a fairer China had not been realised”. To what extent do you agree with this statement?
▶️Answer/Explanation
Ans:
Candidates are expected to demonstrate knowledge of the aspirations of the Chinese people following the 1949 Chinese Communist Party (CCP) victory and then consider the domestic policies in China over the given timeframe in order to gauge the merits or otherwise of the given statement.
Indicative content
- Candidates may attempt to define what they consider the Chinese people’s hopes for China were in 1949.
- This may be a “socialist state” and/or Mao Zedong’s (Mao Tse-tung’s) “vision” for China.
- This may involve a discussion of Mao’s adaptation of Marxism to suit the Chinese situation: land redistribution; peasant participation; class struggle; xiafeng (the downwards flow of CCP workers and ideas to the people) and xiaxiang (the upwards flow of ideas and needs to the CCP); gender equality; the mass line; right thinking, rectification; continuous revolution; and Chinese nationalism.
- Responses may examine Mao’s policies and actions in light of his vision of socialism in the Chinese context and the hopes of the people. This may involve an assessment of the economy, agriculture, the bureaucracy, and social reforms.
- Candidates may also discuss Mao’s political control, his consolidation of power and the various campaigns. Some discussion of whether people expected these, and how they were affected, may be included.
- Domestic events and policies that candidates may include are: Agrarian Reform Law (1950) and the “speak bitterness” sessions with the landlords; CCP organization and structure; Marriage Act (1950); Three- and Five-anti campaigns (1952–1953); first Five Year Plan (1952–1957); Constitution (1954); Hundred Flowers Campaign (1956) and the Anti-Rightist Campaign (1957); Great Leap Forward (1958); Three Bitter Years and the Famine (1959–1961); Peng Dehuai’s (P’eng Te-huai’s) criticism of Mao and the Lushan Conference (1959).
The above material is an indication of what candidates may elect to write about in their responses. However, the list is not exhaustive and no set answer is required.
Examiners and moderators are reminded of the need to apply the markbands that provide the “best fit” to the responses given by candidates and to award credit wherever it is possible to do so.
Question
Discuss the reasons for China’s emergence as a global power by 2000.
▶️Answer/Explanation
Ans:
Candidates are required to offer a considered and balanced review of the reasons why China became a global power in the period from the mid-20th century to 2000. Candidates may consider military, political and economic factors that contributed to this development.
Indicative content
- China’s involvement in Cold War conflicts in Asia demonstrated its growing role as a regional and global power. During the Korean War (1950–1953), Chinese “volunteers” significantly affected the outcome of the conflict by pushing UN forces back to the 38th Parallel. China’s actions during the conflicts in Vietnam and Cambodia also demonstrated their growing power.
- In 1964, China successfully tested its first Atom Bomb, despite the withdrawal of Soviet technical support five years earlier. This further helped China to establish itself as a significant military global power.
- In 1971, the United Nations voted to recognize the People’s Republic of China (PRC) as the legitimate government of China. After Nixon’s visit in 1972, the US eventually established diplomatic relations with the PRC.
- The aims of Deng Xiaoping’s (Teng Hsiao-p’ing’s) economic reforms were to stimulate China’s domestic economy; open Chinese trade to the outside world; allow the development of individual enterprises; and encourage foreign investment.
- Special Economic Zones (SEZs) were set up and proved successful; international trade flourished and wages and conditions were better than elsewhere in China. The policy of the Four Modernizations was designed to improve agriculture, industry, science and technology and national defence. These policies further opened China to the outside world and enabled it to become an economic global power.
- Jiang Zemin was President of the People’s Republic of China from 1993 to 2003. Jiang proposed further economic reform to create a “socialist market economy” (public ownership, individual household industry, private enterprise and foreign investment would all compete equally) in which government would, to an extent, decentralize and allow more capitalist practices (although SEZs were still supported).
- At the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum in the US in 1993, Jiang refused to engage with President Clinton with regard to China’s human rights record, maintaining the importance of non-interference in the internal affairs of other countries.
- During Jiang’s leadership, China regained Hong Kong, secured the 2008 Olympic Games, supported public works in local communities, and commenced the construction of the Three Gorges Dam. In foreign affairs, Jiang maintained cordial relations with the US and Russia.
The above material is an indication of what candidates may elect to write about in their responses. However, the list is not exhaustive and no set answer is required.
Examiners and moderators are reminded of the need to apply the markbands that provide the “best fit” to the responses given by candidates and to award credit wherever it is possible to do so.