Question

Mao Zedong adopted a new economic policy to suit the special needs of the people of China. This policy was not based on the Russian model.

In this context, discuss any four features of the Great Leap Forward and its long term impact.

Answer 1

Initiated in the late 1950s, Mao Zedong's Great Leap Forward sought to industrialise and collectivise China quickly, converting it from an agrarian economy to a communist society. This expansive initiative had a number of noteworthy characteristics and a big long-term influence on China's social and economic development:

1. Introduction to Communities: The establishment of agricultural communes was a key component of the Great Leap Forward. These communes were sizable communal farming areas where the land was shared, and the peasants farmed the land as a group. A portion of the produce sales proceeds went to each family living in the commune. By collecting farms, this system sought to boost agricultural output. At the same time, it served as a local government, with elected councils managing commune affairs.
2. Focus on Small-scale Industry: The Great Leap Forward promoted the creation of local factories and workshops within the communes to produce agricultural machinery and tools, diverging from the focus on heavy industry. In order to accelerate rural industrialization and lessen reliance on big industrial complexes, this was meant to establish a self-sustaining ecosystem where industry and agriculture could support one another.
3. Infrastructure Development: A major focus of the programme was infrastructure development throughout China, with communes organised to carry out public works initiatives including constructing roads, dams, and reservoirs. The country's long-term economic growth depended on modernising the rural sector, strengthening agricultural irrigation systems, and expanding transportation networks.
4. Labour-oriented Economic Model: The Great Leap Forward was distinguished by its emphasis on using China's enormous labour force as the main driver of economic growth. In addition to addressing the issue of unemployment, this strategy attempted to steer clear of the dangers associated with being unduly dependent on mechanisation, which was perceived as a possible cause of economic imbalance.
5. Long-term Impact: Even with its early failures, such as famine and economic disruption, the Great Leap Forward left a lasting mark on China's socioeconomic structure. Production from agriculture and industry both rose significantly over time. While the concentration on infrastructure development helped modernise China's rural areas, the emphasis on small-scale manufacturing laid the foundation for diversified industrial development. The event also brought to light the risks associated with too ambitious economic planning without sufficient consideration of real-world constraints, which will hopefully result in more cautious and practical economic strategies going forward. The Great Leap Forward left behind a complicated legacy that reflected both the challenging nature of putting such drastic changes into practice and the aspirational goal of quick modernization.