Interview

Interview

Modern China has had more than 30 years of economic prosperity. Today, a new generation of Chinese and other young people around the world has no idea of how the country regained its growth trajectory. The secretive Chinese government forbids tales of sufferings endured by millions during Mao regime. A few people that lived during the oppressive regime are alive today: my grandfather is one of them. In my quest to find the truth regarding Chinese Cultural Revolution, I conducted an extensive interview with my grandfather, a Chinese citizen, via Skype. The interview revealed fascinating details regarding the reasons for a launch of Cultural Revolution and the legacy of Chairman Mao.

History

During early 1960s, cold war between the United States and Soviet Union was at its height. For a long time, Chinese government has been a major Soviet Union’s ally. The relationship was based on communist views of both countries.  However, as cold war heated up, China’s leader was increasingly concerned about Soviet Union’s influence in the country’s internal affairs. Chinese people were becoming resistant to Mao’s ideals (Lifton, 16). It is notable that consolidation of power in China was based on absolute leadership—the communist leadership was in control of all citizens’ affairs.

Mao feared to stain his legacy. He understood that a resistance could confirm his worst fears. He had worked hard to install Maoist ideologies for decades. Thus, his legacy was at risk. He needed to act fast to counter the effects of powerful Soviet Union. A cultural revolution was the only chance of power consolidation and preservation of communist ideologies in China.

My Grandfather

My grandfather tells me that he was 21 years old when a cultural revolution happened in China. He was born in the year 1945 to peasant parents. He also grew up to become a peasant that recycled machines for a living.  Since he was a young boy, my grandfather has been fascinated by politics of the United States and major global powers. It is not surprising that he has a substantial knowledge regarding the events that took place during the cold war era. His strong memory was fundamental in my search for information regarding China’s Cultural Revolution and its subsequent economic boom.

Life under Maoist Policies

From the interview, I learned that Chinese people led simple lifestyle during 1960s. In fact, most of them were peasant farmers that brought up in a regime characterized by extreme political indoctrination. Like most dictators, Mao Zedong used brainwashing tactics as one of power consolidation tools. He was well aware of the effects that his policies had on people’s government views. Restricting people access to knowledge of outside world creates artificial satisfaction in the existing regimes, albeit oppressive (Deng & Donald, 394).

In undemocratic and totalitarian states like Mao’s China, a leader has supreme power over his subjects. In fact, breaking set rules often lead to extreme punishments including death. The laws forced most Chinese to cast a blind eye to oppressive activities going on in the country. My grandfather tells me that he often wondered how people could be loyal to a leadership that discouraged changes and sharing of progressive ideas. He also wondered how a leader--as revered as Mao—failed to realize the devastating effects his staunch policies had on the future of the country.

My grandfather was quick to admit that China’s ancient history shaped 1960’s events in the country. It is undeniable that China was an ancient civilized society that, at one time, as powerful as the United States—both in military and economic terms. He observed that people’s nostalgia for global supremacy is partly to blame for thriving of a totalitarian regime. What Chinese failed to realize was that political evolution demanded conformity and immediate adoption. Chairman Mao too was adamant to embrace change—he was wrong.

Effects of Cold War

In 1966, Mao realized his country was rapidly falling into the arms of ‘enemies’. My grandfather believes that Cultural Revolution was an act out of desperation in a fluid situation. Mao was under pressure to demonstrate his power and to show the world that he was still in control. However, the move did little to counter the uprising at home. Besides, Mao did not get the much-needed support from European and North American powers, despite a USSR ditch. He was forced to act in isolation prompting grave consequences to the country.

Chairman Mao Leadership

When I asked my grandfather about his Views regarding Chairman Mao, he pointed out that the leader was talented. To wield an absolute power in a country as vast as china is not an easy feat. It demands eloquence, strictness and show of might. Chairman Mao had all these qualities. However, my grandfather believes that Mao misused his gifts. Should he had channeled the energy in forging for relationship with international community, 1960s China would have been a better place to live.

Regarding the Cultural Revolution, my grandfather admits that it failed to address the challenges China was facing. ‘China needed freedom of speech and association—not a reaffirmation of outdated policies' he stated ‘China deserved democracy…it still does today.’ Other people I contacted for information echoed his views.

Legacy

My grandfather tells me that people in china, especially the elderly, have utmost respect to their supreme leader and .founding father of modern China.’ In fact, people attribute the current prosperity to the leader’s policies introduced during Cultural Revolution.  He believes that Mao saved the country from Japanese Second World War occupation. Besides, he stopped North Korea’s war from spilling into China, hence ensuring the state’s stability. Of course, the Communist Party has played a major role in keeping his legacy alive. However, some people believe that the respect accorded to the leader is symbolic—Communist People Party hype Mao’s legacy to ensure party’s dominance.

On a question regarding the Cultural Revolution’s influence to the Chinese society, my grandfather thinks that the revolution itself is ineffective in the modern times because it is outdated. However, he does not deny that the revolution inspired reforms that are in progress in China today. It sets precedence for modern leaders to enforce complex nationwide reforms successfully.

In summary, my grandfather’s insight regarding Chinese Cultural Revolution proved beneficial. As a first-hand source of information, he demonstrated familiarity with Chinese political structure and past history. It is true that China growth is seen as an ‘economic miracle', but a closer look reveals a different picture. Many people suffered during Chairman Mao’s leadership. The regime’s surviving population, including my grandfather, is a testament of how Mao utilized brutality to remain in power. Though Modern Chinese respect the leader as legendary, his oppressive and dictatorial rule cannot be overlooked. While there is a new Dawn in China, most communist party leaders still cling to old ways of governance. This is threatening to tear the country down. The Aftershocks of Chinese Cultural Revolution are imminent unless a truly democratic government is installed. 

                                                                                                             

Works Cited

Deng, Zhong, and Donald J. Treiman. "The impact of the cultural revolution on trends in educational attainment in the people's republic of china 1." American Journal of Sociology 103.2 (1997): 391-428.Electronic.

Lifton, Robert Jay. Revolutionary immortality: Mao Tse-tung and the Chinese cultural revolution. Vol. 474. New York: Random House, 1968: 1-34.Electronic.