How did Mao return to power after the Great Leap Forward? Mao Zedong, the launching father of the People’s Republic of China and the Chinese Communist Party( CCP), remained in power throughout the Great Leap Forward and beyond. The Great Leap Forward( 1958- 1962) was an profitable and social crusade initiated by Mao to fleetly transfigure China from an agricultural society into a socialist society through rapid-fire industrialization and collectivization of husbandry. still, it redounded in a massive philanthropic disaster with millions of deaths due to shortage and profitable mismanagement.
Despite the failure and mortal cost of the Great Leap Forward, Mao didn’t lose power. Then is a brief overview of how Mao maintained his grip on power during and after this period
Political connection
Mao had formerly consolidated significant power within the CCP by the time the Great Leap Forward was initiated. He was the Chairman of the CCP and had a strong influence over crucial party and government institutions.
Propaganda and Control of Information
Mao and the CCP tightly controlled information and habituated propaganda to shape the narrative girding the Great Leap Forward. They presented it as a success and played down the disastrous consequences, portraying it as a necessary step in the socialist metamorphosis of China.
Political Purges and repression
Mao used purges and repression of dissent within the CCP to exclude implicit rivals and maintain his authority. Those who blamed the Great Leap Forward or challenged Mao’s leadership were labeled as counter-revolutionaries and were frequently purified from the party or executed.
Cultural Revolution( 1966- 1976)
In the midst of the Great Leap Forward’s fate, Mao launched the Cultural Revolution, a radical socio- political movement aimed at reasserting his control over the party and society. The movement targeted perceived adversaries of the revolution and farther solidified Mao’s authority.
Marshaling Mass Support
Mao adroitly mustered parts of the population to support him and the CCP through mass juggernauts and ideological indoctrination, using revolutionary zeal to maintain fidelity and concinnity.
International Geopolitics
Mao also employed transnational geopolitics to his advantage, particularly during the Sino- Soviet split. By aligning with the United States against the Soviet Union, Mao secured support and recognition on the global stage.
Cult of Personality
Mao cultivated a cult of personality, portraying himself as the revolutionary leader and the personification of the Chinese revolution. This made it delicate for anyone within the party to challenge his authority directly.
Despite the disastrous failure of the Great Leap Forward, Mao’s political wit, control over the party, manipulation of information, and the brutal repression of dissent allowed him to maintain power and influence throughout his life until his death in 1976.
