Andrew G. Walder Poradie kníh

A masterful analysis of Guangxi's unusually severe violence during the Cultural Revolution.

Drawing on a wide array of primary sources, including work diaries, interviews, and official documents, this book systematically investigates the political conflict structure in Feng County, a poor and remote area of China, during the decade from the Red Guard movement in 1966 to Mao Zedong's death and the fall of the "Gang of Four" in 1976. It is the first study to concentrate on county-level politics in this period, revealing a surprising extent of social and political disruption that persisted throughout the decade. These events challenge the prevailing scholarly view that the Cultural Revolution's upheavals were mainly urban, demonstrating that this rural county faced factional struggles as intensely as any documented locale in China. The book is organized chronologically into short chapters, guiding readers through the unfolding factional warfare while reflecting on how these conflicts mirrored national trends and highlighting Feng County's unique experiences. Ultimately, it offers a detailed chronicle of the Cultural Revolution's impact on a rural county, shedding light on the pervasive nature of the upheaval and emphasizing the often-overlooked rural perspective.

China's Communist Party took power in 1949 after a prolonged guerrilla insurgency and war, marking the beginning of the Chinese revolution. The narrative covers the rise and fall of the Maoist revolutionary state from 1949 to 1976, highlighting both remarkable achievements and catastrophic failures, primarily influenced by Mao Zedong. The author argues that Mao's China was characterized by two key institutions established in the early years of Communist rule: a disciplined Party apparatus and a socialist economy modeled on the Soviet system. Despite a large national bureaucracy overseeing this authoritarian structure, Mao frequently intervened. The same doctrines and political organization that led to significant successes—such as victory in the civil war and the establishment of a unified modern state—also resulted in severe failures, including the Great Leap Forward's industrial depression and famine, as well as the Cultural Revolution's chaos and stagnation. Misinterpreting China's challenges as capitalist restoration, Mao's insistence on ongoing class struggle against perceived enemies ultimately undermined his achievements, leaving China in a state of backwardness and division at his death.